Calgary city councillor talks budget cuts, new arena

CALGARY – City council will have their hands full on Monday as they talk budget cuts, a new arena and the future of the Green Line.

City administration will present council with where to cut $60 million from its budget to offer tax relief for small business.

Administration is recommending a cut to police service, transit and the fire department which isn’t a shock to Ward 8 Councillor Evan Woolley.

“Of our total $4 billion budget, 75 per cent of that is fire, police and transportation so obviously those departments, as a percentage, took a bigger number.”

READ MORE: Specialized transit services on the chopping block; disability advocates worried

Council is also set to discuss a proposed deal on a new events centre and arena.

Woolley said he wants to talk to Calgarians about any potential deal.

“As a lifelong Flames fan, we need a new arena. The question for Calgarians is how do we partner with the Flames on that and what are the quantums? How much money is a fair amount? And what is the return on that investment?”

WATCH: Calgarians weigh in on proposed arena deal and budget cuts

City Council will have just seven days to approve the proposal which Woolley said is too short.

He said it’s important to try and find some balance between the budget cut decisions that will be made Tuesday and the funding of a new arena.

Woolley is also hoping to put forward a motion to pause the Green Line LRT project citing different budget and construction concerns.

READ MORE: Green Line project should be put on hold: councillor

 

With files from City TV