An organization dedicated to fighting crime in Ottawa is on the chopping block as a city committee looks for places to cut funding and reduce property taxes.
Although Crime Prevention Ottawa has been credited with helping to clean-up some of Ottawa's toughest neighbourhoods, a draft budget supported by the city would eliminate the $500,000-program.
The decision comes just days after city council endorsed the organization's three-year plan.
"That strategic plan was actually adopted by council on Wednesday, and then they voted on Friday to eliminate us from the budget," said Nancy Worsfold, executive director of Crime Prevention Ottawa.
The organization invests in programs that keep children and teens off the streets; it also educates communities about gangs and violence in their neighbourhoods.
Although some councillors say they want to save the program; the mayor -- who sits on the organization's board of directors -- says he's not opposed to cutting it.
"He quickly lost interest," said Coun. Jacques Legendre, who is also the chair of Crime Prevention Ottawa.
"No one from his office who even bothers to attend the board meetings to at least know what we're about, what we're doing, what we're proposing to do."
Cutting the program is among many actions the city is considering in order to help curb a 10 per cent increase to property taxes.
Other cost-saving measures include freezing wages, hiking OC Transpo fares, changing bus routes and hiring fewer paramedics.
Still, Worsfold said cutting the program will hurt the city, and possibly reverse some of the progress that has been made in terms of crime prevention.
"A dollar invested in prevention will save you $7 down the road," Worsfold said.
Council is expected to finalize the city's budget in January.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Catherine Lathem
