Blackfalds Town Council is expected to approve a long-term policing plan on July 28, 2026, that would see the local RCMP detachment add one new officer each year, growing from 10 to 15 members by 2032.
The five-year Multi-Year Financial Plan was prepared by incoming Detachment Commander S/Sgt. Jay Jestings and covers the period from April 1, 2027, to March 31, 2032. Along with the five new front-line constables, the plan also adds two municipal support staff positions.
Annual policing costs for the town are projected to climb from about $1.78 million this year to roughly $2.31 million by the final year of the plan. Under the municipal police service agreement, Blackfalds pays 70 per cent of RCMP costs because its population is under 15,000, while the federal government covers the remaining 30 per cent.
The expansion comes as Blackfalds remains one of Alberta’s fastest-growing communities. The town’s population reached 12,258 in 2025, with a five-year growth rate of 9.3 per cent. While total Criminal Code offences dropped 3.2 per cent in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period last year, break and enters jumped 16.7 per cent.
If council gives the green light, Mayor Laura Svab and Chief Administrative Officer Kim Isaak will sign the agreement, though final budget decisions will still happen through the annual municipal budget process.
