Budget deliberations begin at Calgary council with affordability, infrastructure top of mind

How much more Calgarians are set to pay on their property taxes is just one of the hot button items set to be discussed here at city hall this week as part of the city’s mid-cycle adjustment to the 2023-2026 budget.

Mayor Jyoti Gondek defended the revised budget on Monday that will see a property tax increase of 3.6 per cent in 2025.

“To the people saying we could cut it further, I’d love for them to show me the math,” says Gondek. “What are you going to cut?”

“Are you going to cut public safety? are you going to make it less safe to take public transit after we worked so hard to improve that? Are you going to take away from recreational facilities? Are you not going to invest in infrastructure and maintenance?”

Some councillors contend there’s a way to do the math to find savings.

“There’s always a way to look for fiscal discipline,” says Coun. Sonya Sharp. “There are things in this corporation that are nice-to-haves and the public wouldn’t even notice.”

If approved, the 3.6 per cent tax increase would mean an extra $8.37 a month in property taxes for a single-family home, and an additional $5.09 a month in waste and recycling.

Members of council were originally told back in September that the projected tax increase would be 4.5 per cent. Gondek said she wasn’t pleased with that hike, emphasizing that council direction was to hold the line at 3.6 per cent.

Administration got to work, finding extra investment income to apply to the budget — $107 million for the tax supported operating budget, and $228.9 million in capital funds to be re-used for priority investments.

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WATCH: Calgarians fear property tax increase could make affordability crisis worse in Calgary

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City administration has noted that inflation and population growth are adding significant cost pressures to the budget, especially when it comes to infrastructure.

The budget also having a whole host of capital and operating investments that are going unfunded, including funding for 50 new Calgary Transit buses to improve service.

“This requires investments year after year and if these investments aren’t made continuously, they are passed on down the line,” says Jakob Fushtey, chair of Calgary Transit Riders.

“That get’s more expensive and Calgarians overall suffer from a worse transit experience.”

Low-income transit users have raised the alarm on the expected $33 million transit budget shortfall and how it could impact them.

Gondek told CityNews the budget targets priorities that are top of mind for Calgarians.

“It’s a reality budget,” she says. “Seventy-five per cent of this budget is investing in infrastructure, public transit, and safety — the top three priorities for Calgarians.

“The number one things Calgarians say they need from us is affordability, holding the line on that budget increase will provide affordability.”

Deliberations are expected to continue through the week.