As councillors patted themselves on the back for keeping the property tax rate from ballooning past a projected 4.8 per cent, work on finding more cuts began.
After approving 2010 budget adjustments Monday evening in council, Ward 12 Ald. Ric McIver submitted a motion, later approved by his colleagues, directing administration to look at opportunities to pare another one per cent from the budget prior to returning the mill rate bylaw, likely in March or April.
“It’s a tough budget year for everybody in this city. We’re a major corporation and coming up with four or five per cent (reduction) should be easy. We’re only asking them to come up with one,” said McIver.
“All I know is that if those in charge of the projects apply themselves, we’ll get great results and the taxpayers will get a tax reduction.”
But finance committee chair Ald. Gord Lowe said council has worked with administration for the past year to reach the 4.8 per cent hike.
“Is there anything else left in there at this point in time? I don’t really believe so,” said Lowe.
