I am writing to ask if other Airdrie residents have experienced the same sticker shock I felt upon opening my 2025 Annual Taxation Notice.
As a loyal taxpayer since 2002, I can say that the property tax increases from 2022 through 2025 have been the steepest I’ve ever encountered. Speaking for myself, my property taxes rose by 5.2% in 2022, 7.8% in 2023, 12.5% in 2024, and most recently 9.5% for 2025.
From 2002 to 2021, Canada’s average inflation rate was approximately 1.9% annually. During that same period, my property tax increases averaged 1.8% per year. While annual increases didn’t always perfectly align with inflation, over those two decades, property taxes in Airdrie generally kept pace with inflation — and all was well.
However, from 2022 to 2025, inflation surged, hitting 6.8% in 2022 and averaging around 3.8% annually thereafter (assuming 2.0% for 2025). Yet, over these four years, my property tax increases have averaged 8.8% per year — more than double the inflation rate. I am confident many other Airdrie residents are facing similarly disproportionate increases.
Some might argue that rising home values are the cause of these tax hikes. I disagree. Property taxes are calculated based on two factors: the assessed value of your property and the city’s annually adjusted mill rate. The mill rate is set by the city each year to meet its required revenue target, factoring in all assessed properties. Therefore, blaming rising home prices alone is misleading. The primary driver of these increases is the city’s spending and budget needs — plain and simple.
My question to Mayor and Council is this: What steps will be taken to reduce property tax increases to a more reasonable rate — ideally around 2.0%, similar to the period from 2002 to 2021?
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