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Calgary councillors Monday expressed frustration with the province’s hefty demands on its side of the property tax ledger, but say they have no choice but to pass it along to homeowners.

What that means for the average taxpayer after council finalized its 2016 property tax rate is a 6.1 per cent jump — or an additional $169.80 for the typical household — when the city mails out bills in May, despite council approving a 3.5 per cent increase last September.

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The spike is the result of the province’s annual property tax requisition, a 10.2 per cent increase from last year that will see the NDP scoop up nearly $785 million from the city, almost $70 million more than last year.

Coun. Andre Chabot said the city has no choice but to pass the buck to taxpayers, because the province’s share has to be paid.

“Somehow we have to pay it. If we don’t pay it through this mechanism (property taxes) we go back to reserves or something,” he said.