A proposed $300,000 cut to city hall security funding was shot down today over concerns it would leave the building vulnerable.

Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier said while the building must be open and accessible to the population, there must be a balance found to ensure the safety of the 3,000 people who work there.

"All you have to do is look in those bathrooms right in front of us, there’s an incident a day right there," he said.

When budget deliberations were opened Monday, several people had to be escorted from the building and Ald. Druh Farrell said people who staff the front desks no longer feel safe.

While metal detectors at the entrance to council chambers were not ruled out in the future, Ald. Dale Hodges was concerned over the precedent set by leaving all security funding requests untouched.

"If we don’t cut it now, that sends the message that it won’t be cut in the future," said Hodges. "Security is a growth industry and I just don’t know where it will stop."