But in an environment in which many Calgarians are struggling to manage the ongoing pressures of inflation, the costs of most interactions citizens will have with the city are also proposed to rise, including transit fares, license fees and even cost. pass away. The city council will make possible changes during a week-long debate, which begins on November 21. Calgarians can submit comments until November 22.
Tax and rate increases
Property taxes are proposed to increase by 4.4 percent in 2023 and an average of 3.7 percent annually over four years, although the city council may revise that number each November during deliberations on the budget. So if you live in a typical single-family home, that would mean where you’d pay $3,468 in tax this year, you’d pay $3,613 in 2023, based on these preliminary estimates. Council had previously directed administration to limit property tax increases to something less than the rate of inflation plus population growth. The city’s finance director had suggested in July that there could be a 4.4 percent increase. Under the city’s proposed four-year budget cycle, transit fare increases will generally be seen annually. Single rides for adults will increase from $3.60 to $3.70 in 2023, reaching $4 per ride by 2026. (Helen Pike/CBC) Due to the pandemic, most council charges were kept at 2021 levels as part of last year’s budget. This is due to a change under this proposal. For example, some of the proposed rate increases include:
Increases in transit fares at all levels annually. Single rides for adults would increase from $3.60 to $3.70 in 2023, reaching $4 per ride by 2026. An adult monthly pass would increase from $112 to $115 in 2023 and $126 by 2026. Facility passes at city-owned pools, gyms and skating rinks will increase. A monthly pass for adults at a city recreation center, currently priced at $63.55, would rise to $65.20 in 2023 and $70.45 in 2026. While green fees at city golf courses are proposed to increase by about a dollar in 2023, increases for subsequent years are currently listed as “TBA.” Monthly prices for domestic blue, black and green carts are proposed to increase. Black cart fees will reach $6.99 per month in 2023 and $7.13 per month in 2024, rising to $7.41 per month by 2026. Costs for cemetery services are rising across the board. Where a scattering of cremated remains would cost you $150 in 2022, it will increase to $154.50 in 2023.
Similar rate increases can be found throughout the city’s proposed document. The city said it made “difficult trade-offs” in developing its budget documents, basing much of its decision-making on the results it heard from public participation in the budget plans. According to that commitment as outlined in city budget documents, 54 per cent of Calgarians said they would prefer a tax increase to maintain or expand the service, compared to 39 per cent who said they would prefer to services are cut to maintain or reduce taxes. The city also proposed a variety of operational and capital investments as part of the proposed budget documents.
A summary of big ticket items
The proposed total annual operating budget will reach nearly $4.7 billion in 2023, rising to $4.9 billion by 2026. Largely due to increases in property tax revenue, the city projects its operating revenue could reach $323 million by 2026. Under the plan, several departments would receive a funding boost:
Police services will see increased funding of $34.8 million, which the city said will be used to “continue to transform and reform policing” in Calgary and lead to increased staffing and police technology. Calgary Transit will see a $23.1 million boost, which the city says will improve and maintain service. The fire department, meanwhile, will see a $34.2 million increase, earmarked to improve emergency response times and staff new fire stations. It will also bring back a medical response unit.
Calgary police services will see $34.8 million in increased funding as part of a proposed four-year budget cycle the city released Tuesday. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press) The city also says it has big plans for capital projects. The proposed five-year capital budget for the 2023 to 2027 cycle is $10.1 billion, which includes $5.7 billion in previously approved projects, including $4.3 billion for the Calgary Green Line. The funding includes $559 million proposed for transit, $138 million of which will replace 25 end-of-life CTrain cars. Funding for these 25 LRT cars is available in 2024, which means the time it will take to get these cars into service is still quite a long way off. The city also says it is looking at opportunities for alternative fuel buses, including electric and additional compressed natural gas. Four new fire stations and three new libraries are also planned to be built during this four-year budget.
Counselors react
Sector 1 Coun. Sonya Sharp said the numbers included in the budget did not come as a surprise, adding that there was a lot of work to be done in the next two weeks. However, he said he doesn’t think the tax increase would be well received outside city hall. “But Calgarians are asking for things that will cost money,” he said. Ward 8 Coun. Courtney Walcott called Tuesday’s four-year budget proposal a “status quo” budget. (Mike Symington/CBC) Coun. Courtney Walcott, representing Ward 8, said the proposal represented a “status quo” budget, but noted that the cost increases in place would lead to better service for Calgarians. “That little bit of money per month is a drastic, drastic change in the quality of service you can provide to people,” Walcott said.
