Mayoral candidate Kelley Moore says city administration’s decision not to reveal preliminary budget figures until after the election is disrespectful to Saskatoon residents.
At a news conference Monday, Moore called the decision unacceptable.
"In order for the citizens to make an informed decision on Oct. 26 in the upcoming election, they need to have the information available to them about the budget and what the priorities are,” she said.
Her call for budget numbers prompted immediate reaction from other candidates.
Candidate and councillor Charlie Clark said he will put a motion forward at the next council meeting for the figures to be released.
“I plan to. Somebody else might do it first, but that is my intention,” Clark said.
“One way or another we will have a chance to vote on that issue."
Mayor Don Atchison, who is seeking re-election, said if city manager Murray Totland and administration has all the facts and numbers ready, he would have no problem with council requesting those figures be made public.
He noted, however, no one requested the figures when administration announced in April that preliminary budget numbers would be held back because of the civic election.
"At council and governance and priorities where Mr. Totland spoke, not one person said it should be done earlier,” Atchison said. “It almost seems like a flip-flop in some cases.”
Henry Dayday, a former Saskatoon mayor who is trying to win back the mayor’s chair this fall, also spoke on the issue.
“Obviously it’s administration that's making the decision as to whether or not they do it,” he said. “Where's council in all of this? Where's the mayor in all of this?”
Totland has said it would be more appropriate to release budget details after the new city council — which will include at least three new councilors — is elected.
City administration takes direction from city council, he added.
Moore did not rule out attending the next council meeting or requesting to address council about the preliminary budget figures.
