Calgary’s new mayor pledges focus on safety and tax relief

Just one day after being sworn in as Calgary’s 38th mayor, Jeromy Farkas wasted no time engaging with the city’s business leaders, delivering a “State of the City” address that emphasized public safety, fiscal responsibility, and downtown revitalization.

At Johnny’s Barber + Shop on 1 Street SW, daytime foot traffic remains strong, but safety after dark has become a growing concern for local businesses.

Francis Malibiran, shop lead at Johnny’s, voiced the unease many downtown workers feel.

“As a business downtown, safety becomes very important, especially when you are working late at night. I want to feel safe in my own city,” Malibiran said.

Mayor Farkas acknowledged these concerns, stating that public safety—particularly around transit—will be a priority for his administration.

“Calgarians want us to lean into public safety investments,” Farkas said, adding that targeted spending doesn’t necessarily mean cuts across the board.

Farkas and the city council face a proposed budget that includes a 3.6 per cent overall property tax increase.

Residential properties could see a 5.4 per cent hike, while commercial properties are slated for a 1.3 per cent rise. Farkas made it clear that he intends to push back on these numbers.

“We’re getting to sharpen our pencils; we are going to be working hard for Calgarians to bring down the tax increase that was proposed by the previous council,” he said.

Deborah Yedlin, President and CEO of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, stressed the importance of maintaining Calgary’s competitiveness.

“We need to make sure that we are as competitive as we can be from a business standpoint. Right now we are getting perilously close to a 5:1 ratio in terms of what businesses bear versus what residents bear,” Yedlin noted.

Mark Garner, Executive Director of the Calgary Downtown Association, welcomed Farkas’s commitment to improving safety and accessibility.

“He is very focused on the downtown police station that we advocated for and making sure transit is usable by everybody and that it is safe and inclusive,” Garner said.

Malibiran echoed the sentiment, saying transparency in how tax dollars are spent is key.

“As long as we are seeing where the taxes are going, as long as we are seeing that it is being used to support Calgarians,” he said.

Farkas’ win in the mayoral race was affirmed this week following a recount requested by runner-up Sonya Sharp. Farkas and the newly re-elected city council were sworn in at City Hall on Wednesday.