The NDP may have cost municipalities millions of dollars by cutting the Grants in Lieu of Taxes Program. Critic for the Wildrose Official Opposition for Municipal Affairs Pat Stier says he's very concerned that the government has cut this program specifically because it provides taxes for government buildings.

"Just imagine someone else that would not pay their fair share of taxes. Normally someone would be pretty well going to court if they didn't pay them. But here we have a government that's refusing to pay their fair share of taxes for their social services housing buildings that are in various municipalities."

Stier says this is the Alberta government's way of refusing to pay their share of taxes, for social service housing buildings in various municipalities. He says he's advocating for municipalities in the Legislature, though the amount or money each municipality will lose varies.

"As an example Lethbridge, which is nearby to our area there, is out somewhere in the neighborhood of $913,000 of unpaid taxes in the form of grants that this government is supposed to be responsible for."

Stier says the loss of this grant program will cost Black Diamond about $35,000. He says he hopes municipalities speak up before next week's budget comes out.

"With the budget coming out next week, we're hoping that most municipalities will likewise raise their concerns more clearly to the government before the budget is released to hopefully try to reinstate the program. I think most municipalities are sending letters to their MLA's, they're also sending letters to the minister."

Stier says it's important for municipalities to speak up with letters to the Finance Minster, the Minister for Municipal Affairs, and the Minister for Seniors, Lori Sigurdson. He says the government should be paying their taxes, just like everybody else.