2023-2026 Budget Summary
I’d like to thank all the residents who took time to fill out our engagement survey, those who attended my budget open house at the Country Hills Library and everyone who came to speak at the public hearing.
Voting Record – 2023-2026 Service Plans and Budgets, C2022-1051
Summary: On November 25, 2022, Calgary City Council, including myself, voted to approve the 2023-2026 budget. After several amendments and lengthy debate, the budget included a 3.87% residential property tax increase for the typical ($550,000) single family home. This equals roughly $10 more per month for the average family. As well, Council also voted to draw $75-million in one-time capital funds to be taken from the franchise fess program and allocated towards Future Capital and Lifecycle Maintenance and nearly $65-million of operating surplus towards essential services and community groups.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
· $200M over 4 years for civic partners including Calgary Arts Development, Calgary Economic Development, Tourism Calgary
· Increased investment in festivals & events
· Waived fees for businesses that apply for outdoor patio & café permits in 2023
· Freezing of building & planning application fees
DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION:
· Capital funding of $108M for projects including Olympic Plaza & Stephen Ave redesign
· $63M for office-to-residential conversions
· $9M for office-to-post-secondary conversions
· 9 new peace officers dedicated to the downtown area
TRANSIT:
· No transit fare increases in 2023
· Children 12 & under will ride for free in 2023
· $5M over 4 years for new bus shelters and benches
· Operating base increase of $23M for improved service
· Capital funding of $559M including:
· $138M to replace 25 Ctrain cars
· Investment for electric & renewable natural gas vehicles
TRANSPORTATION:
·$73M for improvements that address pedestrian safety, traffic calming, & missing sidewalk & pathway linkages
·$71M for pavement resurfacing & repair
· $60M for Main Street enhancements
· $12M for enhanced snow & ice clearing
FIRE DEPARTMENT:
· Operating base increase of $44M including:
Hiring more firefighters
Reinstating a medical response unit
· Capital funding of $50M including:
4 new fire stations (South Shepard, Belmont, Haskayne & Walden)
Relocating & replacing the Forest Lawn fire station
· $51M for 911 infrastructure
CLIMATE ACTION:
· Operating base increase of $41M to initiate the Climate Implementation Plan
· Capital funding of $42M for building retrofits to reduce GHG emissions
POLICE SERVICE:
· Operating base increase of 7.8% over 4 years, including:
Continuing to transform crisis response
Addressing staff shortages
Implement race-based data collection
Partner with The City on traffic safety initiatives
· Capital funding of $77M (including communication tech & facility upgrades)
SOCIAL INVESTMENT:
· $153M to repair, maintain & replace affordable housing units
· $12M to leverage Federal & Provincial housing programs to create new affordable housing units
· $19M for the Mental Health & Addictions Strategy
· 3 new Partner Agency Liaison team members who assist unhoused people encamped in public spaces
COMMUNITY SPACES & PLACES:
· 3 new libraries (Waldon, Belmont & Skyview)
· $47M for recreation facility upgrades
· $20M to further advance the Foothills Fieldhouse
· $20M to fund Local Area Plan amenities (like parks & pedestrian infrastructure)
· $9M to revitalize the Vecova building
· $2 million to protect heritage buildings
ADVANCING RECONCILIATION & ANTI-RACISM:
· $3M for Closer to Home's new affordable housing for Indigenous families
· 2 new peace officers dedicated to engaging racialized & Indigenous communities
· Mapping areas of Indigenous cultural importance
· $1.5M to the Indigenous Relations Office
Amendments
I brought forward two amendments:
An evaluation and assessment of policies, procedures and practices that were successful and unsuccessful in 2022.
Including revisiting the existing budget process
A motion to engage the Provincial government in funding for the Blue Line North, the "people mover" from the airport to the Blue Line, and the MAX 301 Bus Rapid Transit.
You can view the full list of amendments here.