Mayoral candidate Bill Crumplin had some harsh words for mayor Brian Bigger on Friday.
"Over the past four years, the lack of leadership from Brian Bigger has proven his promise of bringing 'openness, transparency and accountability' to our local government to be nothing more than a hollow campaign slogan." Crumplin said.
“While reviewing expenses on the city’s website I was shocked to learn that over the course of the first three years of Bigger overseeing councillors expenditures he has allowed Ward 2 Councillor Vagnini to rack up what appears to be excessive spending of tax payers’ dollars on meetings, hospitality and office expenses."
The following chart comparing each councillor's spending of tax payers’ dollars on meetings, hospitality and office expenses speak for themselves.
"As a former auditor and self proclaimed numbers guy, how could Mayor Bigger not have known about this spending?" said Crumplin. "Perhaps it's not a lack of knowledge, but rather a failure of leadership to stand up for taxpayers."
The absence of transparency is troubling to Crumplin.
"What exactly are 'meeting and hospitality' expenses? Mayor Bigger believes taxpayers don't deserve to know the details. What we do know is that under the city's expenditure by-law, meeting and hospitality expenses can include purchasing alcohol with taxpayer money.
"I'm appalled that the Mayor hasn't taken action on this matter. If elected, I will immediately revise the city’s expenditure by-law to ensure that all councillor expenses are truly transparent to the public, and I will amend the by-law to address politicians’ abilities to purchase alcohol on the taxpayer dime."
Crumplin added, "I don't expect Mayor Bigger to suddenly display leadership by releasing the details of these expenses to the public. Therefore, I will be filing a Municipal Freedom of Information request to give taxpayers the transparency they deserve."
