January 15, 2014
Opaque budgeting methods and financial reports in Canada’s major cities baffle councilors and taxpayers, according to a report released today by the C.D. Howe Institute. In “Baffling Budgets: The Need for Clearer and More Comprehensive Financial Reporting by Canada’s Municipalities,” authors Benjamin Dachis and William B.P. Robson, say fixing these flaws is a critical step toward better accountability to voters for municipal spending and taxation. The report reveals leaders and laggards among Canada’s major cities when it comes to transparent budgeting that allows comparison between budget promises and actual spending over the ensuing year.
