Calgarians deserve to know exactly how their money is spent—clearly, simply, and without barriers. We need an open checkbook of city spending, a capital projects dashboard, full contract disclosure, budget reports that align with actual results, and plain-language tools to engage the public. These five reforms are the norm in cities across Canada and it’s time we implemented these truly transparent spending policies here in Calgary. You’ll know where your tax dollars go!
An Open Spending Database: Calgary should have an online database that shows every City payment over $1,000 and lists who was paid, for what, and by which department. This tool will let Calgarians see exactly where their money goes.
A Capital Projects Dashboard: Calgary should have dashboard that tracks every major project’s cost, timeline, status, and if the project is over-time or over-budget. From road repairs to new projects, Calgarians will never be left in the dark.
Transparent Contracts: Every large City contract – who got it, what it’s for, and how much it costs – will be posted online. You’ll know if contracting was a fair process, which companies are doing the work, and if they are charging Calgarians fairly.
Budget and Reporting Alignment: City budgets that are passed before the year begins need to be written in the same exact format as year-end reports. That way Calgarians can easily compare line by line what was promised and what was spent.
Plain Language Budgets: The budgets should be clear for the average Calgarian. The city should provide simple summaries, visuals, and tools to help users understand how their tax dollars were spent and if they were spent properly.
