Their goal is to find ways to reduce city spending; by Tuesday night, Calgary City Council managed to slash several millions of dollars from a controversial three year proposed budget.
City alderman approved Mayor Dave Bronconnier's idea to slash operating costs for Calgary EMS from the budget. This after the province announced it would take over that responsibility next year.
That adds up to about $15-million in Calgary EMS expenses for 2009.
Council also trimmed another $3.2-million in other expenses since the city began combing through the budget line by line.
The cuts will bring the proposed property tax down in 2009 by two per cent according to the city.
Council however, decided a $1.6-million fitness centre for city employees should be spared from being trimmed from the proposed budget.
Most Calgarians CTV News spoke to about the fitness centre are incensed. "I think we have better priorities...especially in the economy coming up," says one person.
Ward 12 Alderman Ric McIver says despite Tuesday's cuts, he says the budget should've been sent back to administration.
"Really, what we demonstrated several times today is that really we should have sent this to administration. Because lots of times, when people had questions about what to reduce, the answers were not there for us in the Council Chamber. And that's why it would be way better to the health of the city, is if we had the administration measure the net effect of the cuts we want to do."
In order to bring the property tax increase in line with the rate of inflation, McIver says council will need to cut well over $25-million dollars.
