The Alberta Municipal Operating Support Transfer (AMOST) is a provincial grant program that provides operating funding to smaller Alberta municipalities. Unlike capital grants for building infrastructure, operating grants help municipalities cover day-to-day costs like staff salaries, utility bills, and service delivery. Small communities with limited property tax bases often cannot generate enough local revenue to provide adequate services, so AMOST funding fills this gap. The program recognizes that all Albertans deserve basic municipal services regardless of whether they live in a large city or a small rural community.