Homeowners in Chestermere, Alberta will see their city tax bill rise by about $227 this year after council approved the 2026 municipal rates at its May 26 meeting.
The residential mill rate jumps from 3.248 to 3.573. For a house assessed at $700,000, that works out to roughly $19 more a month.
Despite the increase, Chestermere still has the lowest municipal tax rate in the Calgary area. City officials say the extra money is needed to keep up with a growing population and maintain service levels as infrastructure pressures mount.
But the city’s portion is only part of the story. When property tax notices land in mailboxes this spring, 42 percent of the average bill will go to the provincial government for education. That’s $1,826 on a typical $700,000 home. The province’s total education tax grab from Chestermere jumped nearly 30 percent, from $13.4 million to $17.3 million.
This is the second year in a row the province raised the education levy. In 2025 council kept the city’s own rate flat, but climbing provincial demands pushed costs higher for residents anyway.
Council is also looking at the long term. With Chestermere’s population hitting 31,671 last year—up 32 percent in just five years—the city ordered a review of its savings accounts and capital plans. Recommendations are due by October 2026.
