Mayor Dave Bronconnier and finance chair Gord Lowe hoped to fend off a full-fledged property tax revolt Thursday, announcing a plan to lower the proposed 23.3 per cent hike by 3.8 per cent.

“We need to continue to be very mindful of the economy and the market, and do our level best to minimize the property tax burden on our citizens – it’s a balancing act,” Bronconnier said.

His plan will increase the Enmax dividend by $24 million and hack EMS funding aside from 2009′s first quarter as the province will take over April 1.

The announcement came just hours after seven aldermen declared their intention to send the budget back to administration for deeper cuts in all areas except emergency services.

Aldermen Jim Stevenson, Ric McIver, Ray Jones, John Mar, Dale Hodges, Andre Chabot and Joe Connelly will table their motion Monday.

Ald. Diane Colley-Urquhart also said she’d support the move, giving the eight votes needed to defeat the budget.