It is a surprise, but it is what it is. He quit the fight before it started.
Mayor Jeromy Farkas is still opposing Premier Danielle Smith's big property tax hike, but he is not battling Smith.
In the days of former mayor Dave Bronconnier, if Bronco thought the city was getting the short end of the stick, you did not have to wait until the Stampede to see fireworks.
No fireworks with Farkas.
A Leger poll hits the streets.
The numbers are no shocker since Smith's UCP government decided to hike property taxes big-time on their side of the tax bill mailed out by Calgary city hall.
Yes, three out of four polled give a thumbs-down to the Alberta government's handling of property taxes, four out of five oppose in the suburbs, but there is lower disapproval for Smith in households with kids.
Farkas Reacts to Poll Results
"The tax issue has struck a nerve because people feel squeezed," says Farkas.
Then, says the mayor, a property tax bill shows up from Calgary city hall and people think the tax hike is coming from city hall.
The Leger poll finds only one in five of those counted were aware how much of their property taxes go to the Alberta government.
A bigger number were not aware any of their property taxes went to the Alberta government.
Yikes!
Historical Context of Tax Breaks
Sometimes it has been Calgary city hall scooping up tax breaks intended for Calgary taxpayers.
There was the infamous tax grab some years back when the Alberta government gave a $52-million-a-year tax break to Calgary taxpayers, stating it was supposed to be passed along to taxpayers and not gobbled up by city hall.
But it was gobbled up when Naheed Nenshi was the mayor and 30 years of the $52 million tax break went to a Green Line LRT to travel from the far north to the deep southeast of the city, a promise that is now not worth 52 cents.
Current Tax Increases
City council, especially in the Nenshi years, ratcheted up taxes.
This time, says Farkas, it is the Alberta government taking way more in property taxes than Calgary city hall.
The mayor points out city council green-lighted a 1.2 per cent property tax hike, made possible by moving city hall money around and not dealing with the city hall spending problem.
That is a $49 tax increase for a typical single-family home.
The Alberta government increased property taxes on the other side of the property tax bill by 21 per cent.
A $338 hike.
Premier Smith has said the money is going to better fund education and build new schools.
Farkas Calls for Separate Tax Bills
Farkas is upset the Smith government refuses to allow separate tax bills.
"If the federal government forced Alberta to collect federal taxes on a provincial tax bill Alberta would be furious and rightly so.
"If you are raising taxes, own the decision. Put your name on it. Explain it. Defend it."
