Mr. Merulla proposed a moratorium on hiring in a noon-hour news release Nov. 5.

It was quickly picked up by Mayor Fred Eisenberger, who stated he was initiating the hiring freeze.

“We are in unpredicatable times and we need to be proactive as much as we can,” said Mr. Merulla in an interview. “Tough times require tough decisions.”

The ward 4 councillor said he will introduce his motion at the Nov. 10 Committee of the Whole meeting.

He has contacted a majority of councillors about the idea, and said they all support the idea.

Taxpayers are facing an initial average tax hike of about 9.3 per cent for 2009. And next month councillors will be debating whether to raise the sewer and water rates another 7 per cent. But with the province signaling the city will not receive its annual social services funding – which was $12 million this year – politicians are scrambling to curtail city spending and searching for ways to raise revenue.