by Cape Breton Regional Councillors will be faced with some tough decisions as formal budget talks, begin this afternoon.
The CBRM is dealing with a 3 million dollar budget shortfall, and councillors will look at what cuts need to be made in order to close the gap, without raising taxes.
On the table is a proposed 200 hour a week reduction in transit, cutting nine crossing guard locations, and closing the satellite citizen service centres.
The eventual loss of a total of 40 jobs through attrition will also be discussed.
At a pre-budget meeting last week, Regional Mayor Cecil Clarke warned that budget deliberations would mark an “ugly week” for the CBRM.
Budget talks start at 2:00, this afternoon at the Civic Centre in Sydney.