O'Brien would draft Ottawa budget himself

Larry O'Brien promised Saturday to write the first draft of Ottawa's city budget himself if he is re-elected as mayor.

O'Brien said that as the only member of council with a city-wide mandate, he should submit the budget for discussion, rather than city staff.

"I want the buck to stop at the mayor's desk," he said in a release.

The release said a mayor needs CEO-like budget powers. O'Brien says he would "lead the budget fight" by submitting a "mayor's budget" after consulting with staff and committee chairs.

He said his budget would show how the city can achieve no increase in property taxes.

O'Brien's campaign promise about property taxes — "zero means zero"— backfired when taxes increased 14 per cent during his first term.