Greater Sudbury mayoral candidate Patricia Mills is taking aim at Mayor Brian Bigger's financial performance over the past four years.
In 2014, the city of Greater Sudbury ran $7 million over budget; in 2015, $5 million over budget; in 2016, $3 million over budget; and in 2017, the budget deficit was over $17 million, said a press release from Mills.
“The mayor told the people of Greater Sudbury that he is an accountant who knows how to manage the finances of a large operation like the city,” she said.
“And yet, he has not been able to deliver a balanced budget in four years. Every year, under his watch, the city has run a deficit.”
She said she's run many profitable businesses over the years, and if she ran them the way Bigger ran the city, she'd have been out of business.
Mills added that she promises to hold the line on taxes and would do a “line-by-line review of spending.”
Following is the full text of Mills' release:
Mayor Fails to Deliver Balanced Budget for Entire Term
Sudbury - Patricia Mills took aim at the mayor’s financial performance today, citing budget overruns in each of the four years he led city hall.
“The mayor told the people of Greater Sudbury that he is an accountant who knows how to manage the finances of a large operation like the city. And yet, he has not been able to deliver a balanced budget in four years. Every year, under his watch, the city has run a deficit,” points out Mills.
In 2014, the city of Greater Sudbury ran $7 million over budget; in 2015, $5 million over budget; in 2016, $3 million over budget; and in 2017, the budget deficit was over $17 million.
“I’ve run many profitable businesses over the years. I would not have been successful with that type of a track record. In fact, I would have been out of business.”
Mills says poor leadership is the problem. “Leadership is about setting goals and creating the right environment for people to succeed. As mayor, I will set clear budget targets and hold senior leaders accountable for achieving the expected results.”
Mills also believes a more open and transparent budget approach is needed. She says it’s important to know and understand how and where the money is being spent. Mills wants to conduct a detailed review of how much it costs to deliver services.
“I want to establish a budget that is uncomplicated and transparent – a budget that makes sense and we can all understand.”
A cornerstone of Mills campaign platform calls for a wise use of taxpayer money.
“My priorities as Mayor will be to hold the line on taxes by ensuring wise use of our tax dollars. This will mean line-by-line review of spending and creating an environment of efficiency at city hall; ensure that roads and infrastructure projects are well managed; and that the city is open and friendly to business.”
Learn more about Mills' candidacy on her Sudbury.com election page.
