Mid-Cycle Budget Adjustments - Key Investments for Calgarians
Last week, Council concluded its deliberations and approved the adjustments to The City of Calgary's service plans and budgets.
City Administration’s recommended Mid-Cycle Adjustments met Council’s direction and addresses what matters most to Calgarians – infrastructure, public safety, transit, and housing.
The Council-approved 3.6 per cent tax increase for 2025 maintains a fiscally responsible budget that holds the line on a budget increase while still investing in priority areas important to Calgarians, ensuring that critical services can continue. Key investment highlights include:
Infrastructure + Maintenance:
A full 60 per cent of new operating investments will be directed into infrastructure, maintenance and inspections. This includes funding for Calgary’s water treatment and distribution system, improving pavement quality on high-speed roads, and other capital investment to maintain or improve infrastructure.
Public Safety + Downtown Revitalization:
Four per cent of the new operating investment will go to support safety in the downtown core and transit across the city, including support Calgarians at risk of experiencing homelessness, mental health, or addiction issues.
Transit + Transportation:
11 per cent of new operating investment will go into permanent base funding to offset the continuing transit revenue shortfall. This helps stabilize transit operations and improve service levels, as well as, continued investment in expanding our transit network.
Additional investments will also help remove barriers for low income and equity-deserving Calgarians by funding the Low-Income Transit Pass program, and advance additional design and early work for the Blue Line Extension to 88 Ave NE.
Housing, Land Use + Local Area Planning:
A capital investment of $124 million will be made in 2025 and 2026, with future operating investment in new community growth starting in 2026. This includes supporting redevelopment in older communities, enabling and supporting the supply of 18,000 homes to increase Calgary’s housing supply.
Council made several additional critical investments for Calgarians without impacting their property tax bill by leveraging the projected favourable operating variances and making prudent use of reserves. Highlights of Council additions included:
Improving pavement quality with an additional $20 million for 2025 to enhance the road network, enhancing safety and traffic flow.
Investing an additional $13 million in a new Training Facility for Calgary Police Services.
Rehabilitating recreational facilities by investing $7.5 million in 2025 and 2026 for required maintenance and repairs. In addition, $800,000 in operational funding and up to $400, 000 in funding for capital have been allocated to keep the Inglewood Pool open for the next two years or until safety concerns require its closure.
Upgrading parks and playground amenities with a $2.5 million investment in capital for 2025.
Through the approval of the adjustments, a total of $5.40 billion operating, including $313 million one-time, and $3.29 billion capital funding will be invested in the community in 2025 to meet Calgarians priorities.
Each of these investments meet the needs of Calgary’s growing population, maintain and improve our critical infrastructure, enhance public safety across the city, and continue to make Calgary one of the most livable cities in the world.