The City of Calgary’s Fall Research Results indicate that Calgarians are increasingly dissatisfied with city services, questioning the value they receive for their tax dollars. The survey shows that 63 percent of residents are satisfied with city services, a decline of six percent since the previous year. However, only 42 percent are satisfied with “how things are going” in the city, a drop of 12 percent from the previous year. Positive perceptions about how the city is run have also decreased by 14 percent, with only 43 percent of residents expressing satisfaction.
Infrastructure, traffic, and roads were identified as the top concerns for Calgarians, with 35 percent of respondents listing them as the most important issues. This was followed by the economy at 18 percent, homelessness and poverty at 17 percent, and water supply and infrastructure at 13 percent. Public safety, transit, and housing were also listed as top priorities, although they saw declines in “issue prioritization” compared to the city’s spring survey. Calgary’s chief administrative officer, David Duckworth, emphasized that the city is working to address these priorities and concerns raised by residents in the survey.
The upcoming budget deliberations in November will be influenced by the results of the survey, which will be presented to city council. Mayor Jyoti Gondek stressed the importance of understanding residents’ priorities before making budget decisions. While 46 percent of respondents are in favor of increasing property taxes to fund these priorities, 45 percent preferred taxes to remain the same or be reduced. Experts believe that the upcoming budget adjustment will be crucial in signaling the city council’s response to growing dissatisfaction among residents.
Calgary residents have expressed mixed views about the city’s quality of life and future prospects. While 66 percent believe their quality of life is “good,” a 10-point drop from the previous year, 70 percent still consider Calgary a great place to make a life. Nearly six in 10 residents are optimistic about the economy, an increase of 9 percent from the previous survey. However, only 61 percent of respondents believe that Calgary is on the right track to becoming a better city in the next 10 years. Trust in the city has also declined, with only 41 percent of residents reporting trust in local government.
The survey conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs over the phone with 2,500 Calgarians revealed important insights into residents’ priorities and concerns. The margin of error for the survey is ± 2.0 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. The results will be presented to city council to inform budget decisions in November. Experts, including Marc Henry from ThinkHQ Public Affairs, consider the upcoming budget adjustment as a crucial test for city council’s fiscal management before the next election in October. The survey highlights the need for the city to address residents’ concerns, regain trust, and make strategic investments to improve the quality of life for Calgarians.
