TORONTO

Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly wants someone to show him the gravy.

A day after Mayor Rob Ford slammed the city’s proposed 2014 budget as “the gravy train all over again,” Kelly came out Tuesday encouraging the budget critics to show him an example of gravy in the $9.6-billion budget.

“If you really think the gravy train has returned then give me one example of gravy in this budget,” he said.

In the wake of Ford’s crack cocaine scandal, council has stripped the mayor of most of his powers including his ability to steer the budget process — that role now falls to Kelly as head of the executive committee.

At Monday’s budget committee meeting, Ford slammed the proposed 2.5% property tax hike that includes a 0.5% increase specifically to fund his Scarborough subway project. Ford argued councillors and staff should be able to find $18 million in savings to limit the tax hike to 1.75% next year.

Kelly admitted Ford’s “gravy train” rant seemed to have traction with the talk radio callers he was listening to on his way to City Hall Tuesday but dismissed it as “sloganeering” and declined to offer up an alternative slogan.

“I think that the budget is not the appropriate place for sloganeering, it is at election time and I think frankly it is disrespectful of the public — their best interests are served by a rational and reasonable debate,” he said.

“The debate has just started, it is not how you start in this debate, it is how you end.”

The veteran councillor said $18 million might not be as easy to find as some would claim.

“That question has always been out there and yet when you look at the budget so many of the policies and programs are dictated to us by other orders of government,” Kelly said.

“The wiggle room that the general public might expect to be there isn’t.”

If Ford or any councillors have an idea for efficiencies, Kelly said he would be willing to listen.

“This is not a deaf ear,” he said.

Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong agreed, saying he’s “all ears” when it comes to where the city could save $18 million.

“(Ford) said it is easy so I’m waiting for him to recommend those cuts and I’m also waiting to hear from the mayor to tell us how he is going to finance the 10% cut in the land transfer tax,” Minnan-Wong said.

He pointed out the Scarborough subway was Ford’s project and it was clear when council voted for it that it would come with a cost over and above the regular tax hike.

“Now that the mayor voted for it, he has to find ways to pay for it,” Minnan-Wong said.

Councillor Adam Vaughan argued it is Ford’s budget.

“He’s just making stuff up again,” Vaughan said. “Nothing this guy says is based in reality, this is his budget committee.”