Budget discussions continue at City Hall

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – Final budget discussions are underway at Calgary City Hall. Councillors will be deciding whether they should raise property taxes in order to maintain public services and avoid further cuts.

There’s a lot of support for a zero per cent increase, however, which would reduce many services and affect things like the police, the fire department, and transit.

Ward 7 Cllr. Druh Farrell says the city can’t just cut its way out of a downturn.

“Our best bet for economic recover is to sell that quality of life. That’s our best bet to get Calgary back on its feet is to boast to the world that we’re a great place to live,” said Farrell in council Thursday.

“What kind of message are we giving when we want to grow but we won’t sustain that growth with services that Calgary demands.”

Cllr. Gian-Carlo Carra also joins Farrell in opposing a zero per cent increase and Cllr. Peter Demong says even with no hikes, the city still has to absorb cuts from the province.

Cllr. Joe Magliocca is proposing an amendment asking the administration to find $50 million more in savings in city departments.

“I’ve talked to numerous people, like burger places in beacon hill for instance, that say, ‘Joe, how many burgers do I have to sell to try to make ends meet?’ They cannot make another 400 customers eat burgers a day to pay for their property taxes and business taxes. It’s not right and it’s not fair.”

The motion was drawn up along with councillors Sean Chu and Jeromy Farkas but was defeated by a vote of 10-5.