Calgary announcement: Alberta cuts education property tax rate and freezes it for three years, starting with 2027 bills

CALGARY — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced at Calgary City Hall on Friday, October 30, that the province will cut its education property tax rate, apply a single rate in every municipality and freeze it for three years. The change takes effect with 2027 property tax bills, and the province says it will save property owners nearly $100 million in 2027-28.

What the new rates are

The education property tax is the provincial share of every property tax bill. Starting in 2027, every municipality will apply the provincial rate directly to each property's current assessment: $2.65 per $1,000 of assessed value for homes and farmland, down from $2.84 in Budget 2026, and $3.975 per $1,000 for non-residential property, down from $4.17. The province will not increase the education property tax rates for three years.

What the province says

Finance Minister Jason Nixon said the change gives property owners the same provincial rate wherever they live in Alberta. Smith, announcing the move in Calgary, stressed that the three-year freeze means no surprises and no moving targets. How much any individual household saves will still depend on its assessed value and the municipal share of its tax bill.

This report is compiled from October 30 reporting from the Calgary announcement; application details and final amounts on individual tax bills remain subject to later announcements by the province and municipalities.