Vancouver to cut 60 jobs to meet budget shortfall

The City of Vancouver has confirmed it will eliminate 60 full-time jobs in order to deal with a $61 millionbudget shortfall this year.

City manager Penny Ballem announced Tuesday morning the city will cut the jobs and streamline services to cutduplication and waste rather than hike municipal taxes.

"That would equate to about a 13 per cent tax increase for residents versus about a nine per cent tax increase for business. There is no way that council is going to go there," she said.

Ballem blamed the economy, the harmonized sales tax,and federal and provincial budget cuts for the shortfall.

Mayor Gregor Robertson was expected to make a statement about the cutson Tuesday afternoon.