What was supposed to be a simple policy change turned into something much bigger – and came to an end Monday night when Cambridge councillors voted against allowing themselves to travel in business class at taxpayers’ expense.

“We made a mistake. I made a mistake. That’s where it’s at,” Mayor Doug Craig told CTV News following Monday’s vote.

In November, councillors voted in favour of a policy allowing them to expense business class seats on flights lasting five hours or longer.

After hearing an earful from the public, councillors unanimously voted to return to the prior situation.

“We took a better look at this and thought economy travel is what we should be doing,” Coun. Pam Wolf said.

Craig said the change had nothing to do with the city’s ongoing budget talks – which currently project a 3.04 per cent tax increase.

“It’s not so much the cost, it’s the symbolic gesture of what it represents,” he said.

Region of Waterloo councillors aren’t permitted to expense business class flights, while city councillors in Kitchener and Waterloo are told to travel economically.