City council draws on reserves as Calgarys budget debate continues Friday – Calgary [Video]

Calgary city council will dip into millions in reserve money to increase spending on a variety of projects while keeping the proposed property tax increase capped at 3.6 per cent.

Council officially began debating the budget on the fourth day of talks, with councillors bringing forward 38 amendments and motions aimed at tweaking next year’s financial plan.

Several of those proposed changes aimed at using $38 million in surplus money set to be allocated to the Fiscal Stability Reserve (FSR), the city’s equivalent of a rainy day fund. Several others propose spending reductions aimed at whittling down the projected tax increase.

Councillors approved using $9.5 million of that money set to go to the FSR to help fund a new firearms training facility for the Calgary Police Service instead of allowing police to use funds earmarked for the Community Safety Investment Framework.

Another $15 million will be tapped over two years to pay for unfunded maintenance and repairs at city-owned …