Smitherman would lead budget review

Toronto mayoralty candidate George Smitherman announced Tuesday that if he wins the election he will personally lead a line-by-line review of the city's finances.

Speaking at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, Smitherman promised to freeze property taxes and hiring for one year, and to freeze new spending. Meanwhile, he said he'd lead a 100-day review of capital and operating budgets to eliminate what he called frivilous spending.

"I will take on the role of budget chief myself, leading the 100-day review because I've learned some things are too important to delegate," he said. 

Smitherman's announcement comes during a mayoralty campaign where fiscal restraint has been a key issue.

"The TTC can find the money to build a plush new headquarters equipped with a museum, but not to keep the subway stations clean," he said. "City council approves spending taxpayers' money on parting trips for retiring councillors while we tolerate potholes and broken-down park benches."

Smitherman also said he would freeze politicians' wages, cut their budgets by $2-million, while eliminating language lessons "and other perks." 

He said his vision is "less Copenhagen, more Scarborough."

He will bring forward more detailed budget priorities Sept. 27.