Council has approved Calgary’s 2026 Budget after hearing from Calgarians about the importance of affordability and essential services. In response, Council reduced the proposed property tax increase while making strategic investments in Public Safety, Transit, Infrastructure and Housing to meet the needs of a growing city. The budget reflects Calgarians’ priorities and builds on the previously endorsed four-year plan.
“Council has come together as a team to adopt a budget that lowers taxes, strengthens core services and makes life more affordable for families across Calgary,” said Mayor Jeromy Farkas. “This disciplined plan delivers major investments in public safety, transit, housing and recreation while reducing the tax increase on homeowners by nearly two-thirds.”
To help Calgarians manage rising living costs, Council approved key affordability measures:
- Reduced tax increase: Lowered the overall tax revenue by approving the use of $50 million in investment income, while keeping reserves strong.
- Cancelled tax shift: Removed the previously approved 1 per cent tax shift from non-residential to residential properties for 2026.
As a result, the tax revenue increase for existing properties was reduced from the proposed 3.6 per cent to 1.6 per cent for 2026.
For the typical residential property*, property tax is estimated to increase 1.6 per cent or $4.50/month. Utility rates (including water, wastewater, stormwater services, black and green carts) will increase 3.9 per cent or $5.29/month for the typical metered residential customer.
Council also approved a plan to gradually shift 0.25 per cent of the tax share from non-residential to residential properties, supporting local businesses over an eight-year period starting in 2027.
Spending on Calgarians’ priorities
The approved 2026 budget includes $514 million (operating, one-time and capital) in targeted spending in key areas that matter most to Calgarians:
- Public Safety: $94 million for downtown safety initiatives, improving safety across transit, including the CTrain during evening rush hour, 9-1-1 operations and The Calgary Police Service to recruit more officers, replace aging vehicles and make needed facility improvements.
- Transit: $76 million to increase service frequency on 11 key bus routes, increase service system-wide and support the Low-Income Transit Pass.
- Infrastructure: $201 million for road and intersection improvements, streetlights, parks and playgrounds, facilities (including the historic Beltline YWCA), Northeast Athletic Complex and the Plus 15 network. $1.1B has been previously committed to water infrastructure, supporting growth and reliability.
- Housing: $106 million to expand affordable housing, including a 260-unit project in Southview, support for downtown office-to-residential conversions and required infrastructure for the “Glacier A North” growth application.
These changes were developed under Council’s direction and shaped by public input, ensuring the budget reflects community priorities.
Overall, the 2026 Budget includes $4.6 billion in operating spending and $3.8 billion in capital investments for 2026.
“Council’s approval of this budget reflects a shared commitment to building a world-class city that works for Calgarians today and for generations to come,” said David Duckworth, Chief Administrative Officer. “These investments will help ensure Calgarians have access to the services and infrastructure they rely on every day.”
The approved budget is one part of what determines property tax bills. Property Assessments will be mailed in January and show the assessed value of each property, which is used to calculate the municipal property tax. The Province will then set its education property tax amount in the spring. Once all inputs are confirmed, property tax bills will be calculated and mailed in May 2026.
This year marks the final adjustments to the original 2023–2026 Service Plans & Budgets, approved by Council in 2022.
Calgarians can learn more at calgary.ca/budget.
*Based on a single residential property assessed at the median of $706,000 in 2026 with metered water usage of 19m3 or 90 bathtubs full. Municipal property tax amounts are subject to change upon finalization of property assessments.
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