Budget process

Budget process

Budgets are the plans we use to run and build our city. They describe how The City will raise and spend the money required to provide important services to Calgarians.

Creating the budget

Every four years, The City creates a plan to run services and a five-year plan for major projects and infrastructure. This helps us meet the needs of Calgarians while making sure our finances stay strong over the long term.

 

How money is spent

The budget is made of two main parts: 

Operating budget

4-year plan

This City’s operating budget pays for the costs of running the programs and services Calgarians rely on. It helps keep The City running smoothly, every single day. Some of these services include:

  • Police
  • Fire
  • Public transit
  • Roads and traffic management
  • Parks and green spaces

We use the operating budget to cover things like salaries, programs, maintenance, utilities and other day-to-day expenses.

Capital budget

5-year plan

The City’s capital budget pays for big projects that help deliver key services to Calgarians. It’s used to build new facilities, upgrade old ones and keep everything in good shape as our city grows. These projects include:

  • Police and fire stations
  • Busses and C-Train stations
  • Roads, bridges and water treatment
  • Recreation centres and libraries
  • Affordable housing

The capital budget helps us take care of what we already have, improve public spaces and build what’s needed in new and growing communities. It’s all about making sure Calgary has the right services in the right places—now and in the future.

Where our money comes from

The City’s revenue is where the money comes from. We collect these funds to pay for services and large projects. We collect no more or less than what has been budgeted and approved by Council, reporting deficits or surpluses quarterly. These funds come from:

  • Property tax (municipal share)
  • Admissions to City facilities
  • Licences for businesses
  • Building permits
  • Utility franchise fees 
  • Grants

Listening to Calgarians

We value Calgarians’ input in shaping the City’s budget and make sure their voices are heard throughout the process. Feedback comes from:

This input helps us understand what matters most and guides how we plan and fund City services.

undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null