Calgary City Council Approves 8.9% Increase in Property Taxes for Homeowners, Blasts Provincial Tax Hike

March 23, 2025 TruthUSA

The City of Calgary is increasing property taxes by 8.9 percent in 2025 following the provincial government’s decision in the recent budget to raise property taxes to cover escalating education expenses.

During its council meeting on March 18, the Calgary city council approved this increment post discussions on annual property taxes that the city, in line with other Alberta municipalities, is obligated to collect on behalf of the province, in addition to its own municipal property taxes.

This year’s budget includes increased provincial investment in K–12 education to tackle substantial enrollment growth due to recent population surges.

Overall for Calgarians, this translates to a 6.4 percent property tax hike in general—which breaks down to an 8.9 percent rise for residential property owners and 2.8 percent for non-residential property owners.

According to Mayor Jyoti Gondek, the average Calgary homeowner will incur about $240 more per year. Gondek highlighted the discrepancy between Calgary and Edmonton, with Edmonton homeowners facing only a $90 uptick in taxes annually, saying that “Calgary is being used as a financial crutch for the province.”

Councillor Andre Chabot pointed out that the “main issue” revolves around shifting the tax burden onto homeowners.

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Alberta’s Population Growth, New Schools

Justin Brattinga, press secretary to Finance Minister Nate Horner, said Calgary’s decision to invoice the province is an attempt to shift the blame for the city’s “rampant overspending” onto the province and is meant to divert attention to save city council members’ re-election campaigns.

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