Edmonton city council approved a 6.9% property tax increase for 2026 last Thursday. That caps off a rough four-year stretch for homeowners in the capital.
Here's what the damage looks like since 2023:
2023: 4.96%
2024: 8.9%
2025: 5.7%
2026: 6.9%
That's roughly 30% more in property taxes over four years before you factor in rising home assessments.
Calgary? They just passed a 1.6% increase. Same province, very different outcomes.
What's Driving Edmonton's Increases
City hall points to the usual suspects: inflation, population growth, and services costing more than expected when the budget was set back in 2022.
Edmonton added nearly 78,000 people between 2021 and 2023. More residents means more demand on transit, roads, and emergency services. Police salaries jumped after an arbitration decision. Union contracts added to payroll costs. Energy and insurance went up. Transit fare revenue came in low.
The city also froze taxes at 0% during the pandemic the first time in over 20 years. That left a gap they've been filling ever since.
"It takes a lot of people, time and equipment to keep a city running, and all those things cost more now," city manager Eddie Robar said.
Calgary Found Another Way
Calgary's new mayor Jeromy Farkas promised to slash the proposed 3.6% increase in half. He got it down to 1.64%.
How? Council cancelled a planned tax shift from businesses to homeowners, redirected $50 million in investment income, and pulled about $90 million from reserves. Critics say they're draining savings to buy a short-term win. But Calgary homeowners aren't complaining for now....
Residents Are Fed Up
The vote passed 11-2, with only councilors Mike Elliott and Karen Principe voting no.
Online, the reaction has been blunt.
"Edmonton property tax increases: 2023: 4.96%, 2024: 8.9%, 2025: 5.7%, 2026: 6.9%," Kirk Lubimov posted. "That's an effective increase of 30% without other costs. How do people keep voting for this?"
Diana Steele pointed out the contradiction in what voters were told during the election: "Remember being lectured that fourth year property taxes are 'fixed' and any candidate who promised cuts was either lying or incompetent? Calgary just cut theirs. Edmonton just raised theirs."
What Now
This budget closes Edmonton's 2023-2026 cycle. Next fall, council debates a new four-year plan.
Mayor Andrew Knack says the city needs to "completely transform" how it handles budgeting. We'll see if that actually happens Edmonton's been talking about fiscal reform for years while the bills keep climbing.
