Coun. Kerry Diotte tried, but failed, to have his council colleagues agree to the nearly $2.8 million in budget cuts he proposed during budget deliberations on Tuesday.

Councillors shot down a number of Diotte's suggestions like spending $2 million less on consultants, cutting $62,600 from the budget for public consultations and spending $29,000 less on surveying Edmontonians.

They also voted against a $126,000 cut to the hosting budget, a $180,000 cut to postage costs and a $60,000 trim to expenditures on the Edmonton Stories website.

Coun. Kerry Diotte tried to get his council colleagues to agree to $2.8 million in proposed budget cuts. (CBC)

"I tried my best. We've been told that this is a very tough budget and I think that every penny counts," Diotte said afterwards.

"I'm a little disappointed that others didn't support those motions to have ten percent cuts in things like printing and postage. All of these things add up."

Diotte did get support from Coun. Karen Leibovici on one issue. She who proposed the city cut $71,000 for budget, instead of the $322,000 proposed by Diotte.

Councillors are trying to keep the 2012 tax increase to 4.5 per cent.