Many people are struggling with their own personal budgets right now. So they will be surprised to discover that Boris Johnson is sitting on �858 million of taxpayer money in reserves, a steep increase of �148 million from last year. Some reserves are vi
Many people are struggling with their own personal budgets right now. So they will be surprised to discover that Boris Johnson is sitting on �858 million of taxpayer money in reserves, a steep increase of �148 million from last year. Some reserves are vital for prudent financial management, but holding on to nearly a billion pounds of Londoners' money when they are enduring this grim recession is a scandal.
At City Hall I have urged the Mayor to use these reserves to invest in frontline services and restore the serious cut in police numbers he is now making. The Liberal Democrats believe he should also give some of this money back to hard up Londoners by reducing the council tax burden this year.
Instead it looks like he's building up reserves for a council tax cut when the next Mayoral elections come round in 2012.
His whole approach to budgeting is putting electioneering before good stewardship of Londoners' money. The full details of the Liberal Democrat budget proposals can be seen at http://www.glalibdems.org.uk/resources/index/
Mike Tuffrey
Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group
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