"I think it's a reasonable compromise given the fact that we are a growing city and we have some pressures that have been given to us by the provincial government, as well as construction inflation," the mayor said.

"While it's a small step forward that they listened to us with respect to the timing, we still have to negotiate a fairer deal that ensures that vulnerable people in our society are not affected by these cuts," Jim Watson said.

The City of Ottawa tabled its draft budget for 2019 and the proposed budget has residents in the city paying an additional three per cent in property taxes.