Reserves and long term liabilities

The City of Calgary’s Reserves and Long Term Liabilities Balances 2023 presents detail on all reserves and long term liabilities including:

  • approval and authorization,
  • funding sources,
  • any conditions and restrictions on use, and
  • a summary of activity in each of the last five years.

Purpose of reserves

The City allocates funds to reserves to meet specific future operating and capital expenditure requirements and to provide a measure of financial flexibility to react to budget shortfalls or provide for emergencies.

Each reserve is approved by Council in a report that identifies the purpose, conditions, restrictions and funding source for that reserve. Because reserves are set up with these characteristics, many of the funds held in reserves are committed to existing projects and activities.

The City has a process in place whereby every active reserve is reviewed at least once every three years.

Background

Reserves are part of good management that allows for funds to be spent judiciously over time or to ensure service levels are maintained and not immediately impacted by a potential downturn in the economy.

The creation, use and management of reserve funds in a formalized financial reserve policy is a best practice and consistent feature of most large cities in Canada and the U.S.

Reserves are used to accumulate funds over time to replace capital assets, and also provide a measure of financial flexibility to react to budget shortfalls or the financial impact of significant unexpected issues in a timely manner.

A properly balanced approach to the planning and use of reserves is considered good financial management and is a key component of The City of Calgary’s strong credit rating.

Reserve Categories

The City’s reserves consist of Operating, Capital and Sustainment reserves. A summary and definition of these categories are as follows:

  • Operating reserve – A reserve to fund operating expenditures for one-time projects, pilot programs, to stabilize operating budgets for unanticipated fluctuations in revenues or expenditures, to comply with a contractual agreement, or for contingency funds for operational emergencies. Included is the Fiscal Stability and Operating Budget Savings Account Merged Reserve, which is held as an operating contingency and cashflow fund and to provide for one-time funding as approved by Council.
  • Capital reserve – A reserve to fund approved capital programs, projects and expenditures. Most of these reserves are either fully committed or have substantial commitments against them to finance existing approved projects and these commitments will reduce the existing balances over time.
  • Sustainment reserve – A reserve to fund both operating and capital expenditures for activities that are treated as self-sustaining. Most of these reserves are either fully committed or have substantial commitments to finance existing approved projects and these commitments will reduce the existing balances over time.

More information

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