2026 Budget
Get involved
Your city. Your budget.We want to hear from Calgarians on what this budget means to you.
Explore the full budget document and register to speak to provide feedback to Council at their Nov. 24 meeting.
Register to speak View the 2026 proposed budget
This budget explains how we plan to deliver the services Calgarians need while keeping our city affordable and ready for the future.
In September, we shared a preview so Calgarians and Council could have more time to see what’s being proposed and how it reflects your priorities. The proposed budget continues that approach with a format that is shorter, clear and easier to follow, so you can see where funding goes 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 Nov. 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, $299.3 million in additional spending (one-time operating, ongoing operating and capital) is proposed to support these important areas.
Key investments:
Housing
$86.6 million to support continued investment in affordable housing, including:
- A 260-unit project in Southview.
- Support for downtown office-to-residential conversions.
Public safety
$66 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 operation and funding for the Calgary Police Service to recruit more officers.
- Replace aging vehicles and make needed facility improvements.
Transit
$59 million to increase:
- Service frequency.
- Fare affordability programs.
- Maintenance and safety upgrades.
Infrastructure
$87.7 million for investments in:
- Pavement, streetlights, parks, facilities.
- The Plus 15 network.
- Work is ongoing for major projects like the Green Line, Event Centre.
- $1.1B has been previously committed to water infrastructure, supporting growth and reliability.
Proposed 2026 Budget
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The operating budget pays for everyday programs and services Calgarians count on like police, fire, transit and road maintenance.
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The capital budget pays to build, fix and improve things like roads, fire stations and recreation centres. It’s part of the bigger multi-year capital plan.
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This is our longer-term plan for infrastructure spending over several years.
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: A proposed 3.6 per cent increase in tax revenue for existing properties in 2026 means that property taxes will increase by:
- 5.8 per cent or $13.11/month on average for a typical residential property*.
- 1.3 per cent for non-residential properties.
Utility rates: An estimated 3.9 per cent or $5.29/month increase in the water, wastewater and stormwater portion of a typical residential property* utility bill.
* Based on a single residential property assessed at the median of $706,000 in 2026 with metered water usage of 19m3 or 90 bathtubs full.