Calgary property tax bills to rise
Calgary homeowners will pay a little more property tax in 2022.
The city announced an increase of 3.87 per cent Wednesday evening, or around $6.20 per month for the typical residential property, it said in a release.
On the average Calgary home value of $457,900 that works out to between $65 and $88 more for the year.
The increases come as a result of amendments to the city's budget.
Among the spends were $3 million on the city's climate plan, which will include new staff and additional money to exchange more than 75 city vehicles for electric models. Climate dollars can also be used to access federal money.
"If we have an opportunity to turn one of our dollars into three dollars, that's something we have to look at very seriously," Mayor Jyoti Gondek said.
"As a council we passed a budget that provides a path forward building on Calgary’s strengths while addressing challenges from the compounding crises we have faced as a city in recent years," added Gondek. "The investments we are making will pay real dividends on our road to recovery. Calgarians deserve a return on their investment in their city, and today, we have delivered on that."
Another $55 million is going to attract developers to convert more than a million square feet of vacant office towers to residential, a move the city says will likely increase property values and drive up city revenue.
Two big ticket budget increases were also passed - $10 million to hire 56 firefighters and six additional fire investigators - and $6 million for Calgary police to bring in 38 new staff - including 13 officers - to help alleviate the strain on resources.
CPS gave $8 million from its 2021 budget to the community safety investment framework, distributing it among frontline organizations meant to reduce the number of calls that are sent to police.
Four members of council, including Gondek, voted against the budget hike.
Some community activists say the $6 million would be better spent on street level harm reduction and crisis supports.
"It's just really frustrating," said LJ Joseph, Vice President of Black Lives Matter YYC. "To see that more money keeps being funneled into CPS when 30 per cent of their calls approximately are these mental health and addiction calls.”
"Police officers, EMS, firefighters, we encounter them at the worst point of our lives," said Joseph. "Especially for police officers. They come to a situation and it feels like they've already kind of determined what kind of situation is going to play out and sometimes it just doesn't end well.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6945600.1719608806!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
'We need new leadership': Liberal MP writes to caucus, says Justin Trudeau should resign
A sitting Liberal MP has written to the federal caucus to say he thinks Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should resign. 'For the future of our party and for the good of our country we need new leadership and a new direction,' said New Brunswick MP Wayne Long in the brief note.
WestJet is warns of travel disruption as mechanics union opts to 'continue with strike action'
WestJet says its mechanics went ahead with their previously threatened strike on Friday evening, and the airline is 'outraged.'
Minivan slams into a Long Island nail salon, killing 4 and injuring 9, fire official says
A minivan slammed into a Long Island nail salon Friday, killing four people and injuring 9, a Suffolk County fire official said.
Ontario MPP removed from PC caucus over 'serious lapses in judgment'
Premier Doug Ford has removed a member of his caucus due to what he’s describing as 'serious lapses in judgment.' In a statement released Friday morning, the premier’s office said MPP Goldie Ghamari had been removed from the Progressive Conservative caucus 'effective immediately.'
Martin Mull, hip comic and actor from 'Fernwood Tonight' and 'Roseanne,' dies at 80
Martin Mull, whose droll, esoteric comedy and acting made him a hip sensation in the 1970s and later a beloved guest star on sitcoms including 'Roseanne' and 'Arrested Development,' has died, his daughter said Friday.
Lt.-Gen. Jennie Carignan to become first woman to lead Canadian Armed Forces
Lt.-Gen. Jennie Carignan will be named Canada's new Chief of the Defence Staff, CTV News has learned, making her the first woman to lead the Canadian Armed Forces.
Multivitamins don't help you live longer, study suggests
Millions of people who take multivitamins everyday may not be reaping the perceived health benefits, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Is marriage harder than it was 10 years ago? Why one psychologist thinks so
Marriage might be the oldest institution in the world, but it's struggling to adapt to the pressures of modern life. Registered psychologist Adisa Azubuike explains why it's more difficult today.
Five survivors from Sudbury, Ont., rescued in human trafficking investigation
Six people have been charged in a provincial human trafficking investigation that identified five survivors from Greater Sudbury.