Sault residents waiting to hear if their property taxes will increase - and if so, by how much - will have to wait just over a week to find out.
The budget was supposed to be voted on and discussed at Monday night's city council meeting, but council voted instead to defer.
After deliberations, Wednesday Apr. 11 at 3:30 p.m. was announced as the date when the 2012 city budget will be discussed.
Ward 6 Councillor Frank Manzo - seconded by Ward 4 Councillor Lou Turco - put forward a motion to defer the budget deliberations to a later date.
It was passed by a 7-6 margin; with Manzo, Turco, Pat Mick, Terry Sheehan, Joe Krmpotich, Susan Myers and Lou Turco voting for the motion, while Mayor Debbie Amaroso, Paul Christian, Rick Niro, Brian Watkins, Marchy Bruni and Steve Butland voted against.
Ward 2 Councillor Susan Myers said she was unaware the mayor - who will be out of town for work obligations - would be unavailable for the remainder of the week at the time she voted in favour on Manzo's motion.
"It's unfortunate that nobody checked with the mayor as it's critical she be at our budget meeting and I thought we had tomorrow as an option," Myers said.
Manzo said he couldn't recall a time when a budget meeting was held during council and wants more time to go through the budget.
"This is not the proper way to do it," said Manzo. "We can't bulldoze the budget and move on. I think if we defer this now, Councillors can go home, review the material and then come back at a later date."
Amaroso countered Manzo, saying records show in 2005 and 2006 budget and regular council was held at the same time.
Ward 3 Councillor Brian Watkins pointed out that city staff were in attendance and made special efforts to be there.
"We set this agenda on Tuesday," he said. "As Councillors we've had a lot of information for a reasonable amount of time, certainly enough time to go through it."
CAO Joe Fratesi reminded council they passed a motion at last council meeting to appoint Monday as budget night.
"We need to pick an evening earlier enough so hopefully our bills go out on time," Fratesi said.
He also said the later in the month the budget meeting is held, the closer they fall to a late date - which had previously concerned council - that could possibly effect whether the city can mail residents their taxes on time.
Ward 5 Councillor Marchy Bruni later introduced a motion to receive financial information regarding the budget from city staff - but not discuss it - and it was voted down.
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