There has been significant staff turnover Calgary City Hall in 2025 after elections in which a new mayor was elected along with a city council with 10 new faces.
On October 20, Calgarians chose Jeromy Farkas to become their next mayor by defeating incumbent Jyoti Gondek. It was the first time that a sitting Calgary mayor had not been re-elected in nearly 50 years.
Farkas' victory was not officially declared until several days after the election due to a recount that confirmed Farkas had won the election by 616 votes over second-place Sonia Sharp.
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In November, the council immediately began budget discussions that adjusted the final year of the four-year budget approved by the previous city council.
After eight days of questions and debate, the City Council approved a 1.6% property tax increase, less than the 3.6% overall increase originally proposed. The council used the revenue the city receives from its investments to reduce tax increases, as well as reserves to cover millions of dollars in new spending initiatives on public safety, transportation, housing and infrastructure.
Weeks after approving the budget, the City Council voted to begin the process of repealing citywide rezoning, the previous City Council's controversial housing policy that changed the city's basic residential zoning to allow more types of housing to be built on the same site to increase supply and improve affordability.
In the video above, Calgary City Hall reporter Adam McVicar met with the mayor in his office to discuss his first few months in office and his vision for the next four years.
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