Edmonton's back alleys are disintegrating, but the question is who is will pay the $18 million annual cost to repair them — all taxpayers or just the people who live on the alley?

Norwood resident Wayne Zimmerman has lived in his home since 1992. He has an alley that backs onto his house.

"To me it's just part of the same infrastructure as the lighting and the sewers and the roadways," said Zimmerman, who was outside cleaning his truck.

The alley behind Zimmerman's house has potholes, ruts, and uneven pavement that are in need of repair.

On the issue of who should pay, Zimmerman says homeowners didn't ask to put the alley in, so the city should cover the costs.

"It's just part of the general infrastructure and it should be covered under the general revenue in my personal opinion," he said.

A report going to council's transportation committee next week recommends the city roll the cost into the Neighbourhood Renewal Program, which is supported by all taxpayers.

The extra cost could translate into an added tax hike of 1.17 per cent starting in 2019 and rising over the next few years to just over two per cent.

Some councillors say taxpayers who don't have alleys shouldn't have to share the cost.

Councillor Andrew Knack says the issue of how much should be paid and who should chip in will be weighed next week.

"I'm interested in all of the options. whether or not it's a cost sharing, or the city does it 100 percent, I really think we need to dig into the pros and cons of each." added Knack.

The city estimates repairing all the city's alleys will cost $18 million annually over the next 30 years.

The city has wrung its hands over alley rehabilitation for several years. Currently crews will only fill potholes big enough to be considered safety hazards.

Alleys, initially gravelled, became a prominent feature in many of the city's mature neighbourhoods during the 1950s and 1960s, the report said.

Most were converted to asphalt in the 1970s and 1980s.

By the 1980s, alleys were no longer a feature in newer neighbourhoods, but the alley system had grown to almost 1,200 km by then.

Now two of three paved alleys are past the point of repair, the report said, with "a significant portion requiring complete reconstruction."

"It is not a stretch to say that alleys have significantly outperformed their design life span," the report added. "Issues such as potholes, water ponding and base failures are common and present a significant maintenance challenge."

The report goes to the committee Wednesday.