Muhammad Amanullah — September 7, 2026
The leak of confidential budget documents in Calgary has intensified a political dispute at city hall, prompting Mayor Jeromy Farkas to call a special meeting of city council over concerns about a potentially serious privacy breach.
Special Council Meeting Set for September 8
Mayor Jeromy Farkas said in an online statement on Friday that, after seeking legal advice, he had decided to convene a special meeting of Calgary city council on Tuesday, September 8.
Farkas said there were reasonable grounds to believe that the leak of confidential documents may have resulted in a serious breach of privacy.
The mayor said the issue required urgent consideration because of the possible consequences for the city administration and its employees.
Concerns Over Employee Safety
Farkas said information contained in the leaked documents could potentially create safety risks for city employees.
He also warned that the incident could expose Calgary’s municipal administration to significant financial and legal consequences.
During the special meeting, council is expected to receive legal advice on the potential damage caused by the leak, the city’s legal obligations and the steps that may be necessary to protect employees and taxpayers.
Claims of a 20 Per Cent Property Tax Increase
The controversy began after Ward 14 Coun. Landon Johnston made confidential budget documents public.
The leaked material appeared to suggest that Calgary could face a property tax increase of as much as 20 per cent next year.
Johnston defended his decision to release the information, arguing that Calgary residents have a right to know about budget discussions taking place behind closed doors.
The disclosure has since triggered a heated debate among city councillors over both the leaked information and the possibility of higher property taxes.
Councillors Divided Over Proposed Increase
Ward 13 Coun. Dan McLean criticized the proposed increase on social media platform X, calling it unacceptable and saying taxpayers were extremely frustrated.
He called for cuts to municipal spending beyond essential services and urged the city to reduce additional expenditures.
The dispute has highlighted divisions within council over how Calgary should manage its finances and respond to rising demands for municipal services.
Mayor Clarifies the Leaked Figures
Responding to the criticism, Farkas reiterated that the amount contained in the leaked documents did not represent a final proposal for a property tax increase.
Instead, he described the figures as an initial list of needs and requests submitted by various city departments.
According to Farkas, the figures included departmental requests, proposals for new programs, additional expenditures and responsibilities that the provincial government has transferred to the city.
He said council’s role was to distinguish between genuine needs and requests that were not essential.
Farkas Calls It a “Wish List”
The mayor said, somewhat sarcastically, that anyone could put forward a request and have it included in an initial list of demands, but that did not mean every request would ultimately be approved.
Farkas stressed that the preliminary figures were part of the budget preparation process and should not be interpreted as a final financial decision.
Johnston Rejects Mayor’s Explanation
Johnston, however, rejected the mayor’s characterization of the leaked figures as merely a hypothetical or preliminary “wish list.”
He claimed that city council had already voted in a private meeting on a proposed 15 per cent property tax increase for 2027.
According to Johnston, the situation shows that council is struggling to make difficult decisions aimed at controlling municipal spending.
His comments have added another layer to the dispute over how budget discussions are conducted and how much information should be made public.
Possible Breach of Code of Conduct
Ward 3 Coun. Andrew Yule also criticized the disclosure of confidential information, describing it as a potential violation of the municipal code of conduct.
Yule said the matter represented a clear breach, although provincial rules governing municipal codes of conduct have not yet been fully finalized.
The issue could therefore raise further questions about the responsibilities of councillors when dealing with confidential information during budget deliberations.
Political Dispute Deepens
The controversy surrounding Calgary’s leaked budget documents has now moved beyond the question of a possible property tax increase.
It has developed into a broader political dispute over transparency at city hall, the protection of confidential information and the responsibilities of elected municipal officials.
The special council meeting scheduled for September 8 is expected to be closely watched as councillors consider the legal and administrative consequences of the leak and determine what steps should be taken next.
At the centre of the dispute are two competing concerns: the public’s demand for greater transparency over municipal spending and the city’s obligation to protect confidential information and the safety of its employees.
