Council passes police, library budget

Ottawa city council approved the city's police and library budgets Wednesday.

The net police budget for 2010 is almost $230 million, a 5.6 per cent increase over last year.

Council also approved the library budget Wednesday. The net budget for the library will increase by $2 million in 2010, to roughly $35 million.

Councillors will begin debating the city's operating and capital budgets Thursday.

The city hopes to reduce spending by $58 million this year. Councillors are expected to pass a 3.9 per cent property tax increase, but even with the extra money,council isconsidering cuts to a number of city programs including Crime Prevention Ottawa, the forestry program and some OC Transpo services.