Calgarians optimistic about city’s future, question value for tax dollars ahead of budget
Global News
Mayor Jeromy Farkas wants to cut the proposed property tax increase by "at-least half," as new data shows just 42 per cent of Calgarians feel they get good value for their taxes.
Calgarians are growing more optimistic about the city’s direction but more are questioning the value they get for their tax dollars, according to a new city survey.
The City of Calgary conducts two annual surveys, in the fall and spring, with the latest fall survey set to be presented to the new city council Monday as part of the 2026 budget proposal.
According to the findings, 71 per cent of respondents rated their quality of life in Calgary as good or very good, down slightly from the spring survey but up five per cent compared to last fall’s survey; although that survey was conducted following a summer of water restrictions due to the rupture of a critical city feeder main.
Nearly seven-in-10 of respondents believe Calgary is on the right track to be a better city in 10 years, with 68 per cent noting the city is a great place to make a living. Seventy-three per cent agreed Calgary is also a great place to “make a life.”
“I’d say overall it’s not bad,” Jon Buda said when asked about quality of life in Calgary. “It’s a fairly safe city compared to Toronto and other parts of Canada.”
However, only 42 per cent of those surveyed believe Calgary is moving in the right direction to ensure a high quality of life for future generations and 56 per cent feel their quality of life has worsened over the past three years.
“It’s a little bit tougher just because everything is not as affordable now, back in the day it was easier,” Calgarian Liam Leeson told Global News in response to the results. “But I still believe living in Calgary is very safe, fun and enjoyable anywhere you go.”
Ahead of budget deliberations in a matter of weeks, 39 per cent of respondents felt infrastructure, traffic and roads topped the list of issues Calgarians found most important, followed by crime, safety and policing, which moved up to the second spot compared to the spring survey.
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