Saint John budget debate stalls

Saint John councillors failed to come to agreement on a new city budget on Monday night despite roughly five hours ofprivate meetings.

The city politicians debated behind closed doors for almost five hours on Mondaywhile more than 100 firefighters and their supporters waited in the council chambers to hear the outcome.

The city's fire department is set to receive less money than last year in the proposed budget. The proposed cuts are causing the firefighters to speak out.

Union members and supporters filled every seat in the council chamber, lined the walls of the roomand more supporters waited outside for a chance to hear the budget debate.

But they never saw their elected officials. The councillors were in an upstairs boardroom debating the proposed financial plan, not only for the fire service but every city department.

The budget meeting eventually wrapped up after five hours but the politicians did not come down and explain that to the public.

Instead, Jonathan Taylor, an assistant clerk, was asked to break the news to the firefighters that had gathered to listen to the budget debate.

The next council meeting will be held on Saturday at 9 a.m.

Saint John council is looking at a $143-million budget for 2012 that maintains the tax rate and avoids major service cuts.

The debate on Monday night was over a so-called Plan B budget that would include $9 million worth of extra cuts.

That city's original budget was based on the principle that the provincial legislature would approve cuts to cost-of-living increases in the city's employee pension fund.

However, the city will have to find an extra $9 million if the legislature does not approve the necessary changes.

Saint John is facing a pension plan deficit of $163 million. The proposed changes to indexing are expected to reduce the deficit by $75 million.

Paul Stackhouse, the president of the firefighters association, said the fact the council could not make a swift decision on the budget is a sign that unions pressure is working.

"I know a lot of you are very frustrated that they didn't come in here [Monday night] and meet and they didn't make a decision.

But I think it's a good sign that they didn't," he said.