In response to recent criticism, the former mayor of Fort Resolution said he and his council didnSA国际影视传媒檛 break the hamletSA国际影视传媒檚 finances, and he has documents to back it up.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 always been a deficit with the hamlet,SA国际影视传媒� said Garry Bailey, who served a term as mayor before losing to current mayor Louis Balsillie in the hamletSA国际影视传媒檚 2017 election.
SA国际影视传媒淭hat deficit has been there for over 20 years but we still had enough money to operate. And within our plan, we were climbing out of that deficit ... We worked together and we worked within our means.SA国际影视传媒�

On March 14, Balsillie put a post on Facebook saying the hamlet is broke and has had to lay off six people and close its youth centre.

SA国际影视传媒淚 came across all these problems when I took on this role and it may take two years before we get back on our feet,SA国际影视传媒� wrote Balsillie.

Bailey provided sections of the hamletSA国际影视传媒檚 2016-17 audit stating that, overall, SA国际影视传媒渢he communitySA国际影视传媒檚 financial position improved from the previous year.SA国际影视传媒�

The audit includes what it calls SA国际影视传媒渟ustainability indicators,SA国际影视传媒� which indicate whether a government can pay its bills, continue its services and programming, and pay its employees and creditors without taking on more debt or raising taxes.

This section of the audit shows a SA国际影视传媒渉ealthy ratioSA国际影视传媒� between net financial assets and total annual revenue, and that financial resources are on hand to finance future operations.
One area the audit explicitly warned about was the deficit in water and sewer. The audit recommended the hamlet write off old water and sewer debts that are considered uncollectable.

Bailey said he canSA国际影视传媒檛 speak to why the hamlet is now in such a bad position, though he admitted itSA国际影视传媒檚 never been in a particularly good one and said hamlets throughout the territory typically donSA国际影视传媒檛 get all the funding they need.

He said the hamlet can borrow money, however, to meet its obligations and then pay this back when its funding comes in. He also said he doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 think the hamletSA国际影视传媒檚 current bidding process is choosing the most cost-effective options.

While Bailey wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 explicitly named in BalsillieSA国际影视传媒檚 post SA国际影视传媒� no one was specifically named SA国际影视传媒� he took issue with this comment and with others made by Balsillie saying that problems with the finances had been hidden from councillors.

Bailey said the councillors were part of creating a capital plan to get out of deficit and all saw the audit, which is public and obtainable at the hamlet office.

The hamlet also recently parted with a long-term senior administrative officer and a new, interim SAO has just been put in place.

Interim SAO Scotty Edgerton deferred questions on this matter to Balsillie, who declined to comment.

Bailey said rumours about his management have been circulating around the community since the post went up.

SA国际影视传媒淚 try to remain positive but I tell you, the slander that I've been getting SA国际影视传媒� even from kids SA国际影视传媒� saying, SA国际影视传媒楾he previous mayor left our community in dire needs, now the new mayor has to clean up his mess.SA国际影视传媒� It breaks my heart because I've been working for politics for the community here for over 20 years of my life.SA国际影视传媒�

Bailey, who is currently president of the Northwest Territory M茅tis Nation, said heSA国际影视传媒檚 proud of his term and his leadership in the hamlet as well as other councils, including the Metis Nation.

SA国际影视传媒淚 run a very healthy budget there. We never go into deficit. If I see trouble coming because Canada didnSA国际影视传媒檛 fund us accordingly, I stop what weSA国际影视传媒檙e doing.SA国际影视传媒�

He said he also has a good track record from his years as president of the Fort Resolution M茅tis Council, before he took over the regional organization. He said he took it from an organization on the brink of collapse to one with a surplus, assets, and a healthy staff.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 not in the business of running councils into deficit. Never been,SA国际影视传媒� said Bailey.