Calgary mayor criticizes Alberta over major property tax increase

Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas has intensified criticism of the Alberta government after newly approved property tax rates confirmed that most of this year’s increase for homeowners comes from the provincial education levy rather than municipal spending.

City council approved the 2026 property tax rates this week, with the average single family homeowner facing an increase of nearly 390 dollars.

According to city figures, only a small portion of that increase is linked to municipal adjustments, while the largest share comes from the provincial education tax requirement.

The municipal increase accounts for roughly 49 dollars, while approximately 338 dollars is connected to the provincial levy, representing a rise of more than 21 percent in that portion alone.

Mayor Farkas has publicly described the provincial increase as one of the largest ever imposed through municipal tax collection.

He argues that municipalities are being required to collect significant provincial revenue while local governments face direct criticism from residents over higher tax bills.

The mayor also said Calgary’s contribution to provincial property tax collection has risen sharply over the past four years.

In his public comments, he compared the situation to how provincial leaders might react if another level of government required Alberta to collect major taxes without local control over spending decisions.

Despite the criticism, Farkas said he is not seeking conflict and wants to maintain a functional relationship with the province while continuing to defend Calgary’s financial interests.

He also linked current pressure on municipal finances to recent provincial decisions affecting other revenue sources, including changes related to automated traffic enforcement.

City officials have indicated that both emergency services and fire operations may require additional funding later this year as Calgary continues to grow rapidly.

Dan Williams responded by saying disagreements between provincial and municipal governments are natural and do not prevent cooperation.

He added that Alberta remains open to discussing new revenue ideas with municipalities.

The debate comes at a time when housing growth, infrastructure demands, and service expansion are placing increased pressure on city budgets across major Alberta communities.

Courtesy: CityNews Calgary