Saskatoon Mayor Don Atchison says budget might not be ready before fall election

Three mayoral candidates in Saskatoon are asking that city administration release its preliminary budget before this fall's election but Mayor Don Atchison says it may not be ready before voters head to the polls.

Candidates Charlie Clark,Kelley Moore and Henry Dayday allsay the preliminary budget contains vital information for voters.

"This decision is contrary not only to the city's own planned schedule, but it's a roadblock to informed voting in October and shows disrespect for Saskatoon residents," Moore wrote in a release. "The decision is unacceptable."

• By the numbers: City of Saskatoon's 2016 budget
• Saskatoon city council has extra $1.2 million for next year

While a number of preliminary tax increase estimates were released last year, administration has decided not to release the information in an election year.

For his part, Clark believes this move represents a step backwards in council's attempts to become accountable and transparent.

"I believe the more the public understands about how and why decisions are made, without suspicion of backroom deals, the more confidence they will have in our local government," he wrote in a release.

Meanwhile, former Saskatoon mayor and current mayoral candidate Henry Dayday would also like to see the preliminary budget released.

"I would like to see it, yes," he said. "In the past, this council has pretty much approved what administration has suggested."

Not council's budget, Atchison says

Saskatoon's current Mayor Don Atchison said on Monday afternoon thathe doesn't know if the budget document is complete or not, and he wonders if the administration will be able to table the full budget before the election.

He reminded reporters that the budget is not council's report but rather a report prepared by the city's administration, outlining its proposals and what they believe should be done with the city.

He said council memberstend to adjust the budget during deliberations which are usually held in November or December.

"Who we need to hear from is [city manager]Mr. [Murrray]Totland to make sure he has all the numbers and everything available and we need to make sure Mr. Totland has the opportunity to deal with the media, through you to the general public, to explain in great detail what's there," Atchison said.

Atchison, who is seeking his fifth term as mayor, added if the budget is ready to be released, then it should be up for debate in a public forum to see if there's an appetite to release the budget ahead of the fall election.

He said ultimately what he wants to see is council and the administration work together to have a four-year budget cycle to avoid scenarios like the one the city is facing this year.

The 2016 budget saw property taxes raised by 3.96 per cent. The 2015 budget saw taxes raised by 5.34 per cent.

The municipalelection will be held Oct. 26.