2026 Budget

A first look at the proposed budget going to Council in November.

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Your budget. Your voice.

We want to hear from Calgarians on what this budget means to you. 

Explore the full budget document and register to speak or provide feedback to Council from Sept. 17 to Nov. 20. 

Submit feedback Download the 2026 budget

A first look at Calgary's 2026 budget

On Sept. 17, we released a preview of the 2026 Budget ahead of formal deliberations in November. This early look gives Calgarians and Council more time to understand what’s being proposed, how it reflects your priorities and what it means for our city’s future. We’ve also made the budget shorter and easier to understand, so it’s simpler to see where funding is going and why. 

Budget timeline

  • June 3, 2025: Budget process presented to Council
  • Sept. 17, 2025: Budget preview release
  • Sept. - Nov, 2025: Registration for Calgarians to speak or provide feedback to Council
  • Nov. 10, 2025: Budget presented to Council
  • Nov. 24-28, 2025: Public submissions to Council and budget deliberations.
  • End of November 2025: Council approval of budget

What matters most to Calgarians

We remain focused on the priorities you’ve told us matter most: Housing, Public Safety, Transit and Infrastructure. In 2026, over $260 million in additional spending (one-time operating, ongoing operating and capital) is being proposed to support these important areas.

Key investments:

Housing

$78 million to support continued investment in affordable housing, including a 260-unit project in Southview and support for downtown office-to-residential conversions. 

Public safety

$61 million towards downtown safety initiatives recommended by the Downtown Safety Leadership Table including daytime resources and outreach for vulnerable Calgarians, investments in 9-1-1 operations and funding for Calgary Police

Transit

$59 million to increase service frequency, fare affordability programs and maintenance and safety upgrades.

Infrastructure

$68 million for investments in pavement, streetlights, parks, facilities and the Plus 15 network to maintain service quality. An additional $1.1B is planned for water infrastructure. Work is ongoing for major projects like the Green Line and Event Centre

Proposed budget

We're now budgeting at the department level. It helps Calgarians see how their funds support priorities important to them and how each department delivers results.

View source data

  • The operating budget pays for everyday programs and services Calgarians count on like police, fire, transit and road maintenance.

  • The capital budget pays for big projects or upgrades that help deliver important services like building fire stations, recreation centres and roads.

  • We plan for the long term. The capital budget outlines investments over five years to build and upgrade the infrastructure that supports essential services.

Get more details about our operating and capital expenditures.

Financial impact on Calgarians

We know Calgarians are feeling the pressure of today’s economy. The proposed 3.6 per cent overall tax increase for 2026 was previously approved by Council. By sticking to that plan, we’re able to maintain essential services, deliver a balanced budget and avoid adding new financial strain. 

 

Property Taxes: 3.6 per cent increase in tax revenue for existing properties in 2026 means that property taxes will be increasing by 5.4 per cent on average for residential properties and 1.3 per cent for non-residential properties. Dollar amounts for typical properties will be shared in November, once finalized. 

 

Utility Rates: Estimated 3.8 per cent increase in the water, wastewater and stormwater portion of a typical residential utility bill. 

Resources

Documents

Meetings

Meetings

Budget process and timeline

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