TORONTO

Councillor Janet Davis accused the Ford brothers of breaking the rules when it comes to council office expenses.

Mayor Rob Ford came out Monday slamming councillors for their 2013 office budgets but Davis fired back Tuesday defending the spending.

“I don’t think spending $30,000 to $40,000 to run an office of a councillor who represents 55,000 residents is wasting taxpayers’ dollars,” Davis said.

“I ask Doug Ford why does he keep breaking the rules? Why does Rob Ford keep breaking the rules?

Councillor Doug Ford charged the city for no office expenses last year while Mayor Ford only spent $18,986.47 from the mayor’s office budget. The councillor filed one receipt - a $57.14 ad for his community environment day - that he paid for with his personal funds.

“If you use your own money that is fine but be clear with the public about what you’ve bought, how much you’ve spent and tell everyone so that you’re not exceeding the limits,” Davis said.

“If you look in those expense accounts not a single dime - not in Rob Ford’s budget or Doug Ford’s budget have been spent on fridge magnets. So where are the fridge magnets?”

The mayor is known for handing out Rob Ford fridge magnets along with his business card to everyone he meets at every event he attends.

Davis argued providing the receipts - even for expenses covered personally - ensures accountability and transparency.

“Come clean,” Davis said. “Respect the citizens of this city.”

Councillor Doug Ford argued he spends “next to nothing out of his own pocket.”

Ford swung back at Davis for demanding he show receipts.

“Show me all her tens of thousands dollars she spends on self-promoting brochures,” he said.

Ford said the office budgets show “they’re all a bunch of tax-and-spend politicians down here.”

“(Councillors) love milking the system,” he said.