As Mayor, one of my core responsibilities is to ensure that the City is responsive to the needs of Calgarians. I know that right now, affordability is top of mind for many of you. With rising costs in our everyday lives—from groceries to utilities—Calgarians need a city budget that respects these realities. That’s why, as we head into budget deliberations next week, I am focused on holding the line on costs while continuing to deliver the services that make Calgary a great place to live.
When City administration first brought forward a budget proposal that included a 4.5% tax increase, I reflected on what I’ve been hearing from Calgarians and knew we needed to do better. I asked City administration to go back, find additional savings, and bring the increase in line with our 2022 commitment of a 3.6% increase. This is not an easy ask in a time of inflation, provincial downloading, and rapid population growth, but it’s a necessary one.
I’m hopeful that my colleagues on Council will join me in committing to keep this promise to Calgarians. Together, we have an opportunity to be fiscally responsible, containing tax increases while ensuring we support the essential services that Calgarians count on. Despite shared cost pressures—like increased energy and utility expenses that affect both the City and households—we’ve prioritized limiting discretionary spending while safeguarding critical investments in public safety, infrastructure, and transit.
To put it plainly, I want this budget to be about striking the right balance for you. By maintaining the tax increase at 3.6%, we’re working to support Calgarians through challenging times without compromising on the services that you’ve said are your top priority – that’s infrastructure maintenance and inspections, keeping our streets safe, ensuring reliable transit. These are the core services that matter to you, and they are the services I want to ensure are protected.
It’s important to note that these steps to ensure financial responsibility are happening despite considerable external pressures, including inflation, population growth and an estimated $436 million in provincial downloading affecting Calgary’s finances.
Even with these pressures, I’m hoping we can control costs and reallocate $92 million in existing spending to help cover essential needs related to transit, infrastructure, and public safety without expanding our budget footprint. Responsible management of your tax dollars is something I take very seriously, and I’m committed to making sure that every dollar goes towards making Calgary a better, more affordable city.
Next week’s budget deliberations are an opportunity for us, as a Council, to show that we are listening. I know that keeping costs low while providing essential services isn’t easy, but it’s what Calgarians deserve, and it’s what I’m determined to deliver.
Thank you for trusting me to champion Calgary’s priorities. I look forward to working with my Council colleagues to ensure this budget reflects our commitment to you and to the future of our great city.