Budget deliberations day 2

The second day of budget deliberations was Council's opportunity to ask members of Administration specific questions about the recommended budget they presented to Council. 

Councillor Sharp asked questions about the top issues for Calgarians: safety and afforadability, and how the proposed budget addresses those issues. 

The budget proposes thirty new investments in various services and capital projects. Councillor Sharp and other members of Council asked Administration for details on how the funding would be allocated, about its importance, and asked Administration to explain the urgency for many of the proposals. 

There's no question that additional funding would benefit Calgarians in many areas. But Councillor Sharp remains concerned that Council is approving a wishlist rather than the most important priorities. This means Calgarians are looking at higher taxes than they were told to expect a year ago, plus a possible shift of more tax responsibility to residents from businesses. 

All together, Councillor Sharp believes The City needs to work within its means, especially at a time when Calgarians are already struggling to live within theirs. 

Councillor Sharp will be proposing other options to find the right balance to help Calgarians struggling with affordability and rising taxes while still supporting our city's most important priorities. Once questions conclude, she will be proposing amendments to the budget for Council's consideration that take into account the feedback we've heard over the past few weeks and months from Ward 1 residents.