Over the first of what will likely be a multi-day affair, Vancouver residents repeatedly urged city council on Wednesday not to approve a 2026 operating budget without either the public or the politicians knowing how, specifically, the millions of dollars of cost savings will be achieved.

Concerns about the lack of detail and transparency in the city’s 2026 budget were repeated several times during Wednesday’s meeting, first by the four members of council not affiliated with the ABC, and then by labour representatives, representatives of private companies and members of the public.

ABC Vancouver’s “back to basics” 2026 budget — which aims for a zero per cent property tax increase — has generated immense public interest, with more than 600 people registered to address council this week

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