Calgary’s Proposed 15 Percent Tax Hike in 2027 Would be Highest in Decades

Calgary’s proposed 15 percent property tax hike next year would be the highest in decades, as the city’s administration seeks billions in additional spending to address aging infrastructure, population growth, and rising service costs. The city’s proposed 2027–2030 budget, presented on Nov. 10, calls for further annual property tax revenue increases of 10 percent in 2028, 7.7 percent in 2029, and 6 percent in 2030. The increases would help fund an operating budget that is expected to reach $6 billion next year and almost $7.9 billion by 2030. The proposal also includes a capital program totalling approximately $20 billion. Calgary’s proposed 15 percent increase in municipal property tax revenue from existing properties in 2027 would be substantially higher than the underlying annual increases documented in city budget records since 2008. Historical records show that municipal residential taxes increased by 13 percent in 2013 when provincial tax-room adjustments were included.