The proposed property tax increase stand at 3.48 per cent with one more night of debate left on the proposed 2013 budget.
At the end of Tuesday night's session, council had approximately 15 motions left on which to vote before referring the completed budget to city council for approval later this month.
The proposed tax increase, which began the night at the proposed 5.14 per cent, dropped more than 1.5 per cent as councillors waded through a list of more than 50 motions made since budget deliberations began last month.
Motions approved Tuesday night by council, sitting as committee of the whole, included finally endorsing a $500,000 functional alignment study for future LRT service through St. Albert, as well as unfunding proposed business cases for graffiti removal, transit service on statutory holidays, reducing funding for the Spirit of St. Albert Society for its Family Day festival and eliminating operating grants for NABI.
The Youth Community Centre, which told council it would close its doors if it did not get the $175,000 it requested, will receive $163,000, approximately $12,000 less than they requested.
Motions that will be dealt with Thursday night include decreasing library funding in 2013 by $70,000, postponing new positions in Economic Development Services and unfunding a program to assess the city's natural areas.
