Fredericton city councillors passed the first step to approving a budget that would maintain the current inside tax rate, but not after some passionate disagreements.

The budget was first shown to reporters on Monday morning. The steady rate was heralded by staff as a response to the province freezing property tax assessments for 2026. City treasurer Alicia Keating estimated this would cost the city between $11 million and $15 million in property tax revenue.

At a council in committee meeting on Monday evening, the budget was approved in principle, but it will need to win formal approval at a regular council meeting later in November.

The meeting began with some councillors expressing support for the budget being able to maintain the tax rate given the challenges from the property fre

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