The Municipal Services Branch works closely with local governments to help them carry out their responsibilities. Among a wide array of services, the branch produces a variety of handbooks and offers courses to help elected officials perform their duties. It provides grants to eligible municipalities, including grants for projects designed to improve municipal administration, municipal services, or increase co-operation between municipalities. It also promotes regional partnerships between municipalities. Assistance with land-use planning, dispute resolutions and municipal status changes is also available.

Examples of branch activities include:

• providing analysis and advice on municipal issues
• supporting co-operation between municipalities
• providing policy, planning and analysis on a variety of issues
• ensuring that municipal legislation and regulations are current
• compiling municipal financial and statistical information
• administering grant programs

The Municipal Services Branch is currently made up of five work units:

• Municipal Advisory Service
• Municipal Organizational Development
• Legislative Projects 
• Planning and Co-ordination
• Grants and Administration

The Municipal Advisory Service Unit promotes excellence in local government. It advises local government officials and the public on municipal administration, finance and planning. Other major responsibilities are:

• managing Improvement Districts in the national parks
• providing advice on the local election process
• administering the Municipal Excellence Network
• tax recovery procedures

The unit also provides elected officials with helpful publications and planning tools.

The Municipal Organizational Development Unit assists municipalities who are undertaking organizational change through restructuring. The unit also co-ordinates training activities through programs like the Municipal Internship program.

The Legislative Projects Unit researches and recommends changes to legislation and regulations that affect municipalities. The unit assists in preparing educational packages to support changes to municipal legislation and regulations. As well, the unit also ensures that newly established regional services commissions meet all legislative and regulatory requirements.

The Planning and Coordination Unit addresses matters relating to:

• Intermunicipal co-operation
• Inter-agency and climate change projects
• Examination of provincial and municipal roles and responsibilities

The Grants and Administration Unit develops grant policy and administers grants to Alberta municipalities. These include:

• 2007-08 Municipal Financial Assistance Handbook
• Grants for Municipalities 
• Municipal Debenture Interest Rebate Program  

The unit also compiles and distributes financial and statistical data on municipalities.

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On-line Workshop Registrations

• Roles and Responsibilities for Councillors & Administrators

General Information

• Municipal Locations
• Municipal Officials Search
• Rural Municipal Boundary Map
• Municipal Profiles
• Municipal Restructuring

Publications

• Acts and Regulations
• Municipal Codes
• Official Population Lists
• Planning and Development

Information and Advice

• Elected Official Information  
• Municipal Financial and Statistical Data
• Events Calendar
• Municipal Advice
• Mediation Services
• Municipal Administrators Survey
• Municipal Excellence Network
• Regional Partnerships

Financial Reporting

• Municipal Financial Reporting
• Regional Services Commission Financial Reporting
• Statistical Information Return
• Tangible Capital Assets Project

Who and Where

• Municipal Officials Search
• Employee Listing