Ward 6 Budget Newsletter

Hello Ward 6,

After 8 days of discussion, deliberation and debate, budget season has officially wrapped up!

The 2026 City of Calgary Budget prioritizes investments in transit, safety, housing, recreation, police and fire through a record $3.6 billion capital budget while still maintaining affordability.

I am very proud our budget resulted in an approximate 75% reduction in the prior council’s proposed tax increase while increasing services to Calgarians.

Specifically in Ward 6, we approved an initial investment for the design of a new YMCA and Library in West District, and fully funded a pilot project to significantly improve safety on transit. Additionally, improving emergency services was a top priority in this 2026 Budget, with investment in Calgary Fire and Police to support response times and community safety, helping to ensure our growing City receives the service levels residents expect.

City Council’s final decision was guided by the feedback received by more than 130 public speakers. To all those who took the time to send in letters, emails, called our offices, and spoke at City Council – thank you. This budget reflects your voice.

For more of my thoughts on the 2026 City of Calgary Budget, listen to my appearance with Councillor Harrison Clark on CBC’s The Eye Opener at this link.

This edition of the newsletter will feature a summarization of Council’s decisions during 2026 budget deliberations. 

Councillor Pantazopoulos’ Amendments to the 2026 Budget

1) 1.6% Increase to Property Tax – Down 75% From Previous Council’s Recommendation

Councillor Pantazopoulos produced an amendment to reduce the proposed tax increase from 3.6% to 1.6%, representing a 75% decrease from the previous Council’s recommendation. By redirecting investment income, we have provided immediate cost-of-living relief, and kept the property tax increase below the rate of inflation.

We have redirected $50 million in investment income into the operating budget instead of putting it into reserves, allowing City Council to bring down the proposed increase. This redirection has allowed City Council to simultaneously increase services while providing meaningful cost-of-living relief to Calgarians.

As we approach the 2027-2030 Budget Cycle, City Council has shown its commitment to value for money, transparency, and strong long-term planning.

2) Investing in Recreation – A New YMCA facility and Library in the West District

$3 Million has gone toward funding the design and permitting of a new YMCA facility and Library in the West District. With Westside Recreation nearing capacity, this exciting new addition to Ward 6 provides direct benefit to more than 41,000 households within a 12-minute drive time.

Next to Radio Park, an approximately 60,000 sq. ft. YMCA and Library in the West District provides a unique partnership between public, non-profit, and private sectors to deliver community amenities. By leveraging Municipal, Provincial, and Federal funding pathways, this new facility could commence construction in 2027 and open in 2029.

Investing in the health and wellbeing of our residents provides immense benefits to our communities. The construction of this facility could provide 110+ new permanent and seasonal jobs once operational, as well as 15,000 volunteer hours. 

3) Investing in Safety – A Transit Safety Pilot Program

City Council has provided $9 million to fully fund a pilot program at 12 or more transit stations across the city. If just 3,000 Calgarians choose transit as their main commuting choice for 1 year, the costs of this investment will be fully recovered.

With higher ridership and other service increases mentioned later, Calgary Transit can provide more comprehensive service levels for riders. This Pilot Program intends to focus security enhancements on C-Train stations during afternoon rush hour (4 p.m. – 8 p.m.). Additionally, this Pilot Program intends to increase community outreach activities by adding six officers to the Community Outreach Team.

In Q3 of 2026, Calgary Transit will report back to Council with results to determine if the C-Train was made safer as a result of this Pilot Program.

Highlights

Public Safety and Infrastructure

Public safety is a top priority in the 2026 City of Calgary Budget. City Council has unanimously directed $8.7 million in funding toward the Calgary Fire Department to fill critical gaps with equipment, training, and vehicle repairs.

An amendment to allocate $2 million in capital funding toward two rectangular rapid flash beacons (RRFBs) per ward has been unanimously approved.

In addition, pedestrian safety has been prioritized in this 2026 budget, with $7.5 million directed toward street safety improvements.

Transit

The 2026 City of Calgary Budget provides significant investment in Calgary Transit’s base service ($5 million) and the primary transit network ($1 million).

Additionally, this Budget provides $11.25 million for the procurement of new transit buses in 2026.

These meaningful investments ensure Calgarians experience greater service outcomes in relation to Calgary Transit. Paired with an investment into security and safety on Calgary Transit, City Council believes that these amendments will encourage more residents to become regular transit riders.

Financial Oversight Committee

City Council has directed Administration to prepare a report outlining the creation of a new Standing Policy Committee on Finance, Budget, and Corporate Services to ensure oversight and advice is provided to Administration on the implementation of the 4-year budget and annual budget adjustments.

This Standing Policy Committee will perform a detailed review of every Departmental/Business Unit budget over the course of the 4-year term and provide report to Council before the end of Q1 2026. 

What’s Next

Calgary’s City Council approved the 2026 Budget on December 3^rd in a 12-3 vote. This budget represents a meaningful step forward for Calgary in a variety of areas, including historic investments in safety, transit, recreation, and transparency. For a full summarization of the 2026 City of Calgary Budget, visit this link.

To all who took the time to contact the Ward 6 office with feedback on the 2026 budget, thank you. Your voice and feedback matter.

In the December edition of the Ward 6 Newsletter, I look forward to sharing an update on the Douglas Fir Trail project, blanket rezoning, local events, and more!