The City of Calgary released its preliminary budget on Wednesday, November 9. City council has a week and a half to study the document before budget debates begin November 21. Debates are scheduled to last until November 25, but several aldermen interviewed by Fast Forward Weekly predict the process will “go into overtime.”
While Mayor Naheed Nenshi estimated last week that the total annual budget would come in at around $2.5 billion, the draft released today asks for $2.9 billion in operating expenses, with an additional $1.3 billion in capital funding.
City departments were asked last year to scrutinize their operations for areas to cut back in anticipation of a five per cent funding cut. Agreeing on those cuts amidst calls for increased funding from many departments will likely take time.
Community-based policing, park restorations, initiatives to reduce bureaucratic obstacles faced by Calgary businesses and transit upgrades (including adding 50 LRT cars to the system) were among budget highlights.
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officematt2002 wrote:
on Nov 10th, 2011 at 7:46pm Report Abuse
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