Mayor Naheed Nenshi is looking to slash the tax increase, cut the Park and Ride fee and increase hours of transit service, according to a report released yesterday.
“I’ve tried to craft a budget that reflects (Calgarians’) priorities, investing in the things they find important while keeping tax increases reasonable,” said Nenshi in a statement. “I hope my council colleagues will have the appetite for these changes.”
Ald. Gord Lowe said it’s unclear right now whether the mayor’s proposed 4.5 per cent tax increase is feasible.
“Depends on council’s appetite for cuts,” he said.
“That will become part of the subject for discussion tomorrow and the next couple of days,” he said.
Lowe said he doesn’t agree with all of Nenshi’s suggestions.
“I do not agree with stopping the Park and Ride fee because that’s what pays for the security and the cleanliness of the transit system,” he said.
Scott Hennig, Alberta director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said while the mayor has lowered the hike, it’s still too much.
“Even with the mayor’s cuts, it’s still four-and-a-half times the inflation rate,” he said.
“We’d like to see council and the mayor dig a little deeper and find some places to get this down to a level that is a lot closer to the current inflation rate.”
