• New CTF report finds that between 2005 and 2015, property taxes increased almost three times faster than inflation
• Fees for Calgarians went up by as much as 181 per cent
  
  

CALGARY, AB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) released a new report titled Calgary’s hyper-inflated tax and fee increases: Calgary’s taxes and fees 2005-2015, that finds municipal property taxes and fees in Calgary have far outpaced the growth in Calgary’s inflation.

The report found that between 2005 and 2015 the municipal portion of Calgarians’ property tax rates increased by almost three times the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI is a Statistics Canada measure reflecting inflation within prices in the economy over time.

“When the city is asking for greater power to tax Calgarians, the question is do they have a revenue problem as some say, or is spending to blame?” asked report author Mark Milke. “With dramatic increases in taxes and fees, we found the ‘revenue problem’ argument falls flat. Controlling costs is the key here.” 

From 2005 to 2015, property taxes went up under both serving mayors, but increased most steeply under Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi. Since 2011, the average annual rise in the residential property tax rate was 7.6 per cent, while the CPI rose on average by 1.7 per cent annually.

“Between spiking property taxes and skyrocketing fees, Calgary taxpayers are being pushed to the limit,” said CTF Alberta Director Paige MacPherson. “Yet even given the economic climate, it’s unfortunate Mayor Nenshi is still pushing for a City Charter that could grant the power to impose even more taxes.”

Calgarians also pay fees on everything from transit passes to water and landfills. Between 2005 and 2015, fees were increased by as much as 181 per cent. Twelve of the 15 fees assessed in the report exceeded the rise in the CPI.

“We found that some of the most dramatic fee increases came on items that make it more expensive to run a home or business,” said Milke.

For example, landfill disposal fees jumped by 162 per cent to $110 per tonne by 2015, compared to $42 in 2005.

Salaries and wages account for 45 per cent of Calgary’s total tax-supported expenditure, according to the city’s own documents. 

“If Calgary taxpayers are to see any moderation in tax and fee increases in future, it is inevitable that the city must manage its costs more prudently,” said Milke. “Otherwise, ever-increasing taxes and fees will continue to burden residents.”

Click here to download the report.

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For more information:

Report Author Mark Milke
office: 403-510-6270, email: [email protected]

Alberta Director Paige MacPherson
office: 403-475-6207, cell: 403-478-7184, email: [email protected]