Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek along with Calgary City Council voted on and agreed to a salary raise for themselves just days after hiking taxes on citizens.

The controversial mayor announced she would be pocketing an extra 2.4% on top of her existing salary and benefits while Calgarians were still reeling from her recent move to jack up property taxes by 7.8%. 

Gondek claims the raise is a result of plans set in motion prior to the cost of living crisis, but made no effort to cancel the raise. 

The mayor is now slated to make double that of her peers on council at $213,000 per year. 

Former Calgary Alderman, John Schmal, sent a letter in December asking the council to call off their automatic raise, calling it “very irresponsible.” 

Schmal said that it’s the third year straight that the mayor and city council received pay increases, which follows three straight years where the previous mayor and council declined increases. 

Dan Mclean, one of the conservative members of city council, echoed Calgarian’s frustrations, saying he “believe[s] that a council that keeps raising taxes probably doesn’t deserve a pay raise.” 

The council had an opportunity to adjust the 2024 city budget in November 2023, which was approved after a 9-6 vote. The almost 8% increase has been harshly criticized by the conservative minority on city council, as well as Calgarians across the city. 

Gondek defends the tax hike

Gondek has defended the tax hike, saying it will fund 28 new “investment priorities” which will cost approximately $600 million. These relate to the city’s housing strategy, public safety and transit. 

The steep hike amounts to nearly $200 more a year for households with an assessed property value of $610,000. Gondek called the hike a “one time measure.” 

According to ThinkHQ, Jyoti Gondek was reported to be the least popular mayor of Calgary in recorded history with a 61% disapproval rating.