The City of Calgary is planning to add $260 million in spending to its upcoming budget to support areas it says matter most to taxpayers.
Housing, public safety, transit, and infrastructure, are the categories which will see the extra cash across operating, ongoing operating, and capital funding.
Details out Wednesday break down the plans for the proposed 2026 budget ahead of formal discussions in November.
Affordable housing is set to get a $78 million investment for various projects, including a 260-unit downtown office-to-residential conversion in Southview; there’s $61 million earmarked for downtown safety initiatives recommended by the Downtown Safety Leadership Table, including daytime resources and outreach for vulnerable Calgarians, investments in 911 operations, and funding for the Calgary Police Service (CPS); and $59 million to increase transit service frequency, fare affordability programs, and maintenance and safety programs.
Lastly, budget 2026 has tentatively planned for $68 million to go toward investments in pavement, streetlights, parks, facilities, and the Plus 15.
An additional $1.1 billion is planned for water infrastructure, the city says.
Work is ongoing for major projects like the Green Line and the Event Centre.
In total, the City of Calgary is proposing $4.6 billion in operating spending and $3.6 billion in capital investments for 2026.
Calgary’s population is growing faster than most major cities across the country, putting pressure on city services and infrastructure. The city says that makes these investments more important than ever.
“We know Calgarians are feeling today’s economic challenges, which is why we are focused on investing in what matters most to Calgarians,” said chief administrative officer, David Duckworth. “This budget balances affordability with the demands of a growing city, allowing us to continue to deliver high quality programs and services that meet the needs of our community.”
These investments are being funded by a 3.6 per cent property tax increase, which was approved by council earlier this year.
For property owners, the 3.6 per cent increase will result in a 5.4 per cent property tax increase on average for residential properties and 1.3 per cent increase for non-residential properties, the city explains.
This accomplishes a previous city goal of transferring more of the tax base to residential properties to support a more business-friendly environment.
According to the city, utility rates are also expected to rise by 3.8 per cent for the water, wastewater and stormwater portion of a typical residential bill.
It’s not entirely known yet what this means in dollars for the typical home; that information will be made available with the proposed budget in November, once preliminary 2026 property assessments values are available.
Chief financial officer, Les Tochor, says the increase in taxes was necessary.
“We know Calgarians are feeling the pressure of today’s economy,” said he said. “By staying true to the original four-year plan and taking a disciplined approach to financial management, we’re ensuring essential services are maintained while using limited resources effectively to meet the needs of a growing population, without adding extra strain on taxpayers.”
This year marks the final adjustments to the original 2023-2026 Service Plans & Budgets that were originally approved by Council in 2022. The city says it updates its budget annually to respond to changing conditions and priorities, while staying aligned with long-term goals.
Have your say
Starting this week, Calgarians are able to provide feedback on the proposed 2026 budget.
The comments will help inform council’s decisions and ensure the needs and priorities of the community are met.
The full budget will be presented to council on Nov. 10.
Public deliberations will start Nov. 24.
Calgarians can view the budget preview, register to speak or submit comments at calgary.ca/budget