Administration pitching property tax increase, higher water, waste fees to Calgary council in mid-cycle budget adjustments

Calgary city administration is scheduled to present updated budget recommendations to the city council as part of a mid-cycle review on Tuesday.

This review aims to adjust the 2023-2026 Service Plans and Budget, which was approved in November 2022, in response to changes in economic conditions and the needs of Calgarians, especially in light of challenges like aging infrastructure, rapid population growth, and inflation.

One key proposal includes maintaining the property tax increase at 3.6% for 2025, as requested by the council earlier this year.

However, to achieve this, the city has been forced to reevaluate its investments and funding priorities, identifying $107 million in tax support and $228.9 million in capital funds for priority investments.

The administration is proposing a modest 0.9% increase in property tax for 2025, which would raise the annual tax bill for the average home valued at $700,000 by approximately $8.86—an additional $1.90 monthly compared to the currently approved budget.

Additionally, the council will discuss potential increases in user fees for water, waste, and recycling services, which could add about $5.09 per month to the typical residential utility bill.

Councillors will engage in a question-and-answer session with administration before deliberating on which budget amendments to adopt.