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“People are asking for it,” Coun. Pat Lorje said in an interview Tuesday. “I think there’s no reason not to do it.”

Other councillors contacted on Tuesday — Darren Hill, Ann Iwanchuk, Zach Jeffries, Mairin Loewen and Tiffany Paulsen — also said they back the early release of budget information. Coun. Charlie Clark, who is running for mayor, has said he will also vote to release the budget early.

“I’m fine with it being released in September,” Iwanchuk said in an interview. “I think the budget should be released when the administration is ready to release it.”

Hill said he supports releasing whatever information is available, but added he understands it will not be complete.

Two councillors — Troy Davies and Randy Donauer — did not respond Tuesday to emails and phone messages seeking comment.

Hill posted on his Facebook page this week that the proposed property tax increase for 2017 is expected to be about 3.25 per cent to 3.5 per cent. Those numbers are lower than the estimate of 4.2 per cent presented by the city’s chief financial officer, Kerry Tarasoff, in December 2015.

The early release of the budget would need the support of six council members if all current councillors are present at the Sept. 19 council meeting. Ward 8 is vacant, and a tie vote results in a defeated motion. Clark has said he will table a motion for the early release of budget information.

Atchison pointed out Monday that no council member opposed the budget plan when it was proposed in April, suggesting Clark was guilty of a “flip-flop.” The other two mayoral candidates, Henry Dayday and Kelley Moore, also said they support the early release of the budget.