According to the Government of Alberta, New rural policing partnership, dated Dec. 18, 2025, Alberta’s government has announced revisions to the funding framework for policing in rural and small communities as the cost of front-line police services continues to rise.

The updated structure will adjust municipal contributions beginning with the 2026-27 fiscal year so that communities will cover 22 per cent of current front-line policing costs, moving gradually back to the intended 30 per cent level over the next five years. The adjustments respond to higher policing costs due to recent collective agreements, inflation and additional positions added under the existing model, which have increased expenses by 57 per cent without corresponding changes in service levels.

Under the prior arrangement, contributions were based on outdated 2018 cost figures, resulting in municipalities paying about 19 per cent of the actual costs. The province says that revising the contribution methodology will replace reliance on property values and outdated indices with measures tied to recent front-line cost data, staffing vacancies and population density and will provide annual public reporting to improve transparency. The government expects to provide nearly $32 million in additional support for rural policing in 2026-27 to help offset the transition. 

The revised model follows engagement and review with municipal leaders and will take effect on April 1, 2026, as part of broader efforts to maintain sustainable and predictable law enforcement services in communities served through the Provincial Police Service Agreement with the RCMP. The ongoing provincial contribution to the agreement remains significant, reflecting Alberta’s share of provincial and federal cost-sharing arrangements.