Steve MacLellan

Earlier this year, council approved a 10 per cent tax rollback
for business property owners. Since then, the city has been searching
for ways to pay for it.

Nearly every city department and service — a total of 48 departments from arts to waste and recycling — will feel the crunch.

“People will see a real impact because we have to absorb this in only one quarter of the year,” said Mayor Naheed Nenshi.

Here are some of the biggest impacts:

 
• 223 city positions (which include vacant jobs and retirements) will be cut.

 

• 115 city employees will lose their jobs.

 

• 80,000 fewer Calgary Transit service hours, which means reduced frequency of buses and CTrains.

 

• Lower disaster preparedness at the emergency management agency.

 

• 52 fewer affordable homes (13 per cent of the housing incentive program) will be funded.

 

• Zero community recreation programming at some locations.

 

• Four
  fewer medical response units and one rescue unit on the fire
  department’s frontlines, which means reduced service for critical
  medical interventions and emergency responses citywide, and increased
  response times.

 

“This is a tough budget across the board,” said Coun. Evan Woolley.

Sad but true. But at least they can help the billionaire flames owner build a shiny new arena for hockey in the downtown core.