Editor: This is a response to 鈥淏udget system needs to change鈥� (The Times, March 30.)

I trust that Councillor Charlie Fox (a charter member of the gang of six slate) followed his and Councillor Jordan Bateman鈥檚 own guidelines, and obtained permission from the whole of council, before asking staff to provide summaries of salaries and expenses of all of council.

This is especially relevant in the light of their loud criticisms of the cost of the mayor鈥檚 picture in newspaper notices of the Mayor鈥檚 forum and the cost of coffee at municipal events.

I would contend that for an elected councillor or mayor to be effective, some significant expenses are necessary and justified.

I have in fact been wasting my time and effort questioning the above issues. As we all know, the gang of six slate acts without any concern for constituents鈥� wishes. Like the slate in former mayor John Scholtens鈥� day, they do what they want and freely and arrogantly tell the voters what is good for them. They could care less about what the voters really want.

What we want is fair democratic representation, responsible spending and no tax increases during fiscal hard times. It鈥檚 all about attitude.

We are not your piggy bank. You are not entitled to whimsical arbitrary tax increases. All that is required is amortizing large capital projects over longer periods and holding the line against unreasonable municipal union featherbedding demands.

It would be a big help if municipal staff were not in charge of the size of the staff and hiring, as this is classical 鈥渇ox in charge of the fiscal hen house monetary control鈥�  鈥� which is out of control.

Our municipality must have the will to practise competent fiscal behaviour and policy.

A fair and ethical political system debates how our money is spent based on divergent ideology, but we can鈥檛 spend money we don鈥檛 have.

Bob Moats,

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