Montreal councillors to oppose borough budget freeze

An unexpected budget freeze for Montreals boroughs has raised the ire of some city councillors.

"In each of the boroughs, we have cuts ranging between 1 and 2 million dollars," says Anie Samson, borough mayor of Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension

"What mandate gives you the right to cut money from each of our boroughs?" adds Samson,who is also a candidatewith Denis Coderres team.

Earlier this year, former Mayor Michael Applebaumpledged to adjust boroughs budgets according to inflation.

But interim Mayor Laurent Blanchard says the decision was made with taxpayers best interests in mind.

Without the freeze, he said the next administration wouldbe faced witha $200 million shortfall.

"With the numbers we were faced with, we felt it wasnt our place to tell the next administration, Youre going to raise taxes because thats what you get," he said.

Projet Montral's Richard Bergeron and Luc Ferrandez say they have plans to file a motion against the freeze.

The new administration will table the municipal budget between Nov. 4 and Jan. 31.