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Calgary Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra said he’s “heartsick” going into budget negotiations Monday, as council members clash over proposed tax changes in the city.

On Monday, citizens will get their say on the 2020 budget during an all-day public consultation session at city hall. The rest of the week will see council members propose cuts aimed at keeping tax increases minimal or static, with the tax hike and residential/business tax shift to be decided Thursday.

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“I hope that council goes in with an open mind and, despite a lot of the chatter . . . we really think about what it is we’re doing and the kind of city we want to build during this budgeting exercise,” said Carra.

Carra is opting for the previously approved 3.03 per cent tax hike on homeowners, despite the fact that some council members have since signalled they would push for a budgetary freeze and cuts to services in the year ahead.

Further complicating the matter, council will also decide whether to tweak the ratio of property taxes paid by homeowners and businesses to tackle the downtown tax crisis.