O'Brien would draft Ottawa budget himself

Larry O'Brien promised Saturdayto write the first draft of Ottawa's citybudget 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.

Thereleasesaid a mayor needs CEO-like budget powers. O'Brien sayshe 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 campaignpromiseabout property taxes "zero means zero" backfired when taxes increased 14 per cent during his first term.