Among the savings made are a $413,000 drop in the cost of the Council’s telecommunications contract, staff savings of about $340,000, a saving of $180,000 in payments for licensing Microsoft software, a reduction of $240,000 in planned housing maintenance, and a reduction in the Recovered Materials Foundation grant of $300,000.

In presenting the draft Annual Plan to the City Council last month, Strategy and Finance Committee chairman Alister James said he and fellow councillors had to be thorough in reviewing operational and proposed capital spending to make sure the Council’s operations were efficient and effective.

“I would like the Budget Scrutiny and Audit Special Committee to work with each of the standing committees and community boards to identify cost reductions and priority setting of spending and to report to this Council during the next six months,” Cr James said.