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Council quietly nixed Monday pay raises for nearly three dozen of the City Hall’s general managers and departmental directors in the coming year — sending an unmistakable signal to other departments.

“It’s more than sending a message, it’s dealing with reality,” said Coun. Ward Sutherland, vice-chair of the city’s priorities and finance committee.

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“The budget was decided four years in advance and as we approach 2017 that might be a conversation we need to have with different organizations.”

The city’s salary disclosure list shows five general managers earn base salaries between $190,500 and $306,000. Meanwhile, base salaries for Calgary’s 29 directors range from $131,500 to $228,500.

In January, council awarded top managers a 3.2 per cent pay hike for 2015, an increase of roughly $225,000 annually.

Sutherland said Monday’s decision to freeze pay was partly motivated by the economic downturn, which has cost the city millions of dollars in revenue, and to send a message to other city employees.