Vancouver City Council |
MOTION ON NOTICE
Submitted by Councillor Sullivan for May 13, 2003 Regular Council meeting
Report from Mayor on the intended uses of the $150,000 increase in Political Staff Budget
MOVER: Councillor Sullivan
SECONDER: Councillor Ladner
WHEREAS Vancouver has over the years established a careful balance of influence over decisions between Mayor and Council;
AND WHEREAS Vancouver City Council has in previous years succeeded in controlling the cost of government and spending by politicians;
AND WHEREAS elected officials have a duty to exercise leadership in containing costs;
AND WHEREAS the previous mayor had a political staff budget of $145,000. After the recent election this amount was increased to $185,000 in addition to the mayor's discretionary budget of $42,000;
AND WHEREAS our present Council has increased the Mayor's political staff budget by $150,000 which is more than a 100 percent increase. This request for political staff funding is unprecedented in that it was put forward and approved with no details provided whatsoever;
AND WHEREAS this dramatic budget increase will change the relationship between the Mayor's Office and the Councillors' with a reduction of influence of the Councillors;
AND WHEREAS it is important for City Councillors to be apprised of the uses of taxpayer funds.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Council requests that the Mayor forward a report on the intended uses of the $150,000 increase.
* * * * *