THEY were there to chop jobs, client service centres and raise user fees but a committee of councillors balked at their first chance to cut their own office budgets last night. Coun. Rainer Bloess called for a 10% cut to the $5-million budget for all elected officials but lost in a 6-3 vote at last night's corporate services committee.

"They have no trouble making cuts to community groups," Bloess said of council. "But when it comes to cutting our own budgets I guess we failed the test."

Ottawa Mayor Bob Chiarelli voted against the plan.

"I'm going to vote against this and I expect that between now and council day there will be some sober second thought on what should or shouldn't happen to council budgets," said Chiarelli.

Bloess' proposal came as city councillors attempted to pass their first budget test last night. They stared down millions of dollars in proposed cuts and millions of dollars in user fee hikes. The entire package solved more than $31 million in budget problems.

The proposed cuts affect internal City Hall administration and economic development funds for groups like the Ottawa Life Sciences Council.

"I don't think there will be any add-ins back into the budget including economic development," said Chiarelli.

INTEREST GROUPS

Even before councillors could begin considering the roughly $20 million in cuts and $12 million in fee increases, they first listened to delegations from many groups asking to be spared from the cuts.

Delegates from the Ottawa and District Labour Council, the Overbrook Community Association and the Ottawa Gatineau Hotel Association all spoke, urging the committee to choose its cuts wisely.

Among the list of budget-saving measures was $2.8 million in funding cuts for groups like the Ottawa Tourism and Convention Authority.

But some people disagreed with everything council was doing.

"We do not want our taxes raised and we don't want our services cut," said Adele Muldoon, a former candidate for councillor of West Carleton.

All decisions made by the corporate services committee still need to be approved by council on March 24.

The meeting was the first since Chiarelli announced he would vote in favour of a 3% property tax increase. The $25 million that the increase would bring the city would help councillors meet this year's $101.5-million shortfall.

The issues being faced last night pale in comparison to the onslaught of people expected at a health and recreation committee meeting scheduled for Friday.