The City continues work on ambitious savings targets

Today, Administration has begun the process to engage an external consultant to support our work to modernize municipal government through the Solutions for Achieving Value and Excellence (SAVE) program. SAVE reflects a strategic approach to cost-savings under the Calgary’s Comeback strategy.

Through SAVE, The City will work to identify at least $74 million in operational savings by 2022, in addition to the $143 million in savings and efficiencies The City has already achieved since the start of 2019. The City aims to find these efficiencies while maintaining or improving service delivery. A minimum of $24 million in savings is to be implemented by the start of 2021 and a minimum of an additional $50 million by the start of 2022.

“These ambitious savings targets will help to further modernize our municipal government, reduce costs and support our continued efforts to streamline and be more efficient in our operations,” said David Duckworth, City Manager. “Our goal is to ensure every dollar is invested wisely and that we continue to deliver the high-quality services that Calgarians value at an affordable rate.”

The external consultant will be hired as part of a Request for Proposal (RFP) that was submitted to market today. The RFP has been developed to engage a consulting firm that can collaborate with Administration to accelerate and augment current efforts to continuously improve.

“We will work collaboratively with Council and the external consultant to support the work already being done within The City,” continues Duckworth. “By finding more strategic opportunities to find savings across the organization, we will be able to remain fiscally responsible and minimize the need for further across the board cuts.”

To achieve Council’s direction and return in November 2020 with $24 million in base operating budget savings for 2021, Administration will be looking to onboard the successful consultant in April 2020. Updates on the SAVE program will be shared on calgary.ca/SAVE, as well as monthly at the Priorities and Finance Committee.

Calgary is a dynamic and resilient city and The City of Calgary and its partners are committed to our economic recovery to make life better every day for citizens, customers, communities and businesses. To learn more about our efforts to support “Calgary’s Comeback,” visit calgary.ca/comeback

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