Premier, mayor clash over sharp rise in Calgary education property taxes

Premier Danielle Smith is pushing back against Mayor Jeromy Farkas’ criticism of a steep increase in education property taxes, a hike the city says will hit Calgary homeowners far harder than those in other Alberta municipalities.

Farkas has warned the change will cost the average Calgary homeowner roughly $340 more per year, comparing the province’s approach to federal equalization and arguing the city isn’t getting value for the money it sends to Edmonton.

Smith rejected that characterization, insisting the education levy directly supports Calgary students.

“Calgary ratepayers are paying for Calgary students,” she said while making an education announcement in Cochrane on Thursday.

“I’d ask those who are opposed now, especially those who weighed in during the teachers’ strike, to urge us to get a speedy resolution… I would ask them to tell me which schools they want cancelled and which complexity teams they want cancelled.”

Smith noted the province is requisitioning $967 million from city homeowners this year and will be giving $2.24 billion in operating expenses to the city’s two major school boards.

“We also give additional funding to the francophone board,” she said.

Opposition NDP leader Naheed Nenshi accused the province of trying to shift blame onto the city ahead of tax bills landing later this year.

“They won’t increase their personal income tax or corporate tax so they can stay ‘low-tax,’ but they’ll do it on the backs of property owners and ranchers, and I think that’s unconscionable,” Nenshi said.

He also praised Farkas for publicly challenging the narrative.

The issue of the education tax hike dominated an emergency city council meeting on Wednesday. The increases vary by property type, single-family homes could see nearly $340 more annually, condos about $129, and multi‑residential buildings more than $1,200.

“It feels like we’ve worked for several years… and we see it wiped out, all in property tax increase,” said Coun. DJ Kelly.

Farkas has floated the idea of a plebiscite to let Calgarians decide how education taxes collected on behalf of the province should be handled.

Some councillors, including Dan McLean, said they’re open to the idea, but noted the province is also planning to build 14 new schools in the city.

“I’m not here to defend the province, but everybody asked for more teachers, more schools, more supports, and that comes with a cost,” McLean said.

Still, he added he was a fan of the plebiscite idea.

“Putting something out to the people, there’s no more direct democracy than that,” he said.

Others were less impressed. Coun. Landon Johnson called Wednesday’s meeting “performative,” saying many of the questions could have been handled by email.

A stand‑alone plebiscite would cost the city an estimated $12 million, according to Elections Calgary. The city has held similar votes in recent years, including on water fluoridation and the 2026 Olympic bid.