Calgary proposes 3.9% tax increase for single family homes, 3.6% hike overall
A growing population, inflationary pressures and increased spending are all factors driving up Calgary's budget and its tax rate, the city said.
At a briefing on Tuesday, city administration recommended an overall property tax increase of 3.6 per cent for 2025.
Calgary councillors are hearing proposed mid-cycle adjustments to the city's four-year budget cycle on Tuesday morning.
If approved, property taxes for a single family home will increase by 3.9 per cent next year compared to 2024. The rate for a condominium would rise by 10.5 per cent, while multi-residential and high-rise properties would jump 5.3 per cent.
The city is also upping monthly utility fees by 3.7 per cent for a typical single residential property.
All told, the average single-family home with a median price of $700,000 will pay about $161.52 more in 2025 – about $13.64 per month – due to combined property tax and utility cost increases.
The total proposed property tax increase for non-residential properties is 1.4 per cent.
"The recommended adjustments aim to strike the right balance between delivering reliable city services, maintaining quality infrastructure, and building a world-class city," David Duckworth, Calgary's chief administrative officer, said in a news release.
Leading up to Tuesday's public release of budget adjustments, administration had been prepared to recommend an overall property tax increase of 4.5 per cent for 2025, but officials said they found "a higher amount of investment income" to bring down the rate to what council had previously approved.
Calgary's operating budget for every day expenses will escalate by 11.4 per cent in 2025, much of which is due to increased investments in infrastructure, public safety and transit spending.
"Utilities are essential for Calgarians, and further infrastructure investments, including maintenance and enhanced inspections, are key to ensuring utility reliability now, and in the future," Duckworth said.
Acting city chief financial officer Les Tochor said Calgary's population has ballooned by more than 144,000 residents since the budget was first approved two years ago and it's having an immediate impact on infrastructure, especially waste and recycling, streets sidewalks and pathways.
Additional investments will be made to maintain and inspect infrastructure, including Calgary's water network and roads. Money will also be spent to cover a transit revenue shortfall and on housing and planning.
Councillors will debate the proposed budget adjustments later this month and it could change if currently unfunded projects are approved.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Five years after toddler's brutal death, Northern Ont. family struggles to find peace, justice
A North Bay family is struggling to find peace and justice as the five-year anniversary of the brutal death of toddler Oliver McCarthy approaches.
Alberta RCMP officer charged with 2 counts of sexual assault
Const. Bridget Morla, a Leduc RCMP officer, has been charged with two counts of sexual assault in connection with an incident that happened two years ago.
Ontario dad removes hockey rink at heart of neighbour dispute
A Markham dad who drew the ire of neighbours and the city after installing a hockey rink in his backyard says the rink has now been taken down.
Kingston, Ont. doctor in 'disbelief' after being ordered to repay $600K for pandemic vaccination payments
An Ontario health tribunal has ordered a Kingston, Ont. doctor to repay over $600,000 to the Ontario government for improperly billing thousands of COVID-19 vaccinations at the height of the pandemic.
Three climbers from the U.S. and Canada are missing on New Zealand's highest peak
Three mountain climbers from the U.S. and Canada are missing after they failed to return from a planned ascent of New Zealand's highest peak, Aoraki, authorities said Tuesday.
Motivated by obsession: Canadians accused in botched California murder plot in police custody
Two Canadians are in police custody in Monterey County, California, after a triple stabbing police say was motivated by a B.C. man's obsession with a woman he played video games with online.
Trump demands immediate release of Oct. 7 hostages, says otherwise there will be 'HELL TO PAY'
President-elect Donald Trump is demanding the immediate release of the Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza, saying that if they are not freed before he is sworn into office there will be “HELL TO PAY."
Belly fat linked to signs of Alzheimer’s 20 years before symptoms begin, study says
As the size of a person’s belly grows, the memory centre of their brain shrinks and beta amyloid and tau may appear — all of this occurring as early as a person’s 40s and 50s, well before any cognitive decline is apparent, according to new research.
More RCMP and CBSA ‘human resources’ destined for border, Public Safety Minister LeBlanc says
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc says the federal government will 'absolutely' be adding more Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and RCMP ‘human resources’ at the border.