'Tough budget' includes 1.77% drop in property taxes for Calgarians

Many Calgarians are in line for something next year that they haven't seen in a long time — a property tax cut.

After four full days of budget deliberations, council approved changes to the budget Thursday night that include an overall 1.77 per cent decrease in property taxes.

More than 160 jobs will be eliminated and every city department will get the same or less money in 2021 than this year. The budget includes more than $90 million in spending cuts.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi says these changes are what Calgarians need in challenging economic times.

"I'm very pleased with this budget. It strikes the right balance. It's a tough budget," he said. 

"It strikes the right balance between the tax decreases and the services and ultimately I think Calgarians should be very happy today."

Some business properties like large warehouses are looking at higher taxes, however.

Council voted to approve another one-time rebate of $21 million to ensure none of those property owners pay more than a 10-per cent increase.

In recent years, council has spent about a quarter of a billion dollars on the rebates to shield property owners from drastic rate hikes.

"I believe that, so far, we're the only major city in Canada to be able to come forth with a tax decrease during a pandemic. But the fact that we did it while still focusing on investing in the things that make life worth living here is I think a really important thing,"  Nenshi said.