A move to reduce the 5.7 per cent tax rate increase in Calgary’s 2013 budget is picking up steam.

With a $4 million surplus from Calgary Police, City Council could use that money to reduce the rate from 5.7 to 5.3 per cent if it decides not to use it for any other projects.

While the proposal got much approval from council, some are urging to wait until police are consulted.

Right now, the City is facing $3 billion dollars in spending for 2013, averaging out to about $80 more per homeowner.

One of the key issues is the operating budget for the City’s new Emergency Operation Centre.

Mayor Nenshi said the new facility is costing more money to run each year than then old one.

“What I was really trying to push for in there was to understand, what benefits are we getting from that higher operating cost?” he said. “What will citizens see from the fact that we’re spending $2 two million a year more on the new facility than we did on the old facility?”

Other concerns that were raised by citizens included paying higher transit fees and the cost of city golf courses, swimming pools and arenas.