Mississauga’s city manager has withdrawn an earlier offer to spend $10,000 to send councillors and senior city staff to Mayor Hazel McCallion’s swanky 90th birthday bash next month.

“The offer of ticket purchase has been withdrawn by the City,” Janice Baker, the city manager wrote in an email. She went on to explain that the offer was in support of Sheridan College, which, according to city staff, is to receive all proceeds from the birthday party.

“Supporting Sheridan’s move into the downtown and continuing to partner in their success is an appropriate role for the City. The original intent was to demonstrate support to the Sheridan College strategic objective of a new college in the City Centre while honouring an internationally recognized municipal leader of more than 30 years,” Baker wrote.

Some councillors and residents of Mississauga expressed frustration when news of the initial offer was reported late Monday.

While the optics of the largesse didn’t look good for the mayor, McCallion says she had no idea about the offer from the city manager until it was reported in the media. “I didn’t get it,” she said, referring to a memo sent by Baker on Friday to Mississauga councillors and the city’s senior staff. The offer of two $350 tickets for each councillor came as Mississauga residents face the possibility of an 8 per cent increase in the city’s share of the 2011 property tax bill, which amounts to an overall hike of just over 2 per cent.

Before the offer was withdrawn, the popular 12-term mayor defended it, pointing out that all proceeds of the lavish event go to Sheridan College, which is trying to raise $15 million for its planned new facility in Mississauga.

“The college came to me last year and asked if they could use my birthday party to raise funds for them. I can’t agree that a contribution to Sheridan College is a waste of taxpayer money; it’s going to a very valuable educational institution.”

A Sheridan spokesperson said the college only got involved with the mayor’s birthday party after it was approached by a representative of McCallion’s private charity, who asked if the college would like to be the recipient of the party’s proceeds.

The mayor stressed that councillors and senior staff were free to decline the original offer from the city manager. “They can use their own expenses or pay out of their own pocket. They don’t even have to go, no one’s forcing them.”

Before the offer was withdrawn, Councillor Pat Saito said she received the memo from the city manager, but wasn’t sure where the money would have come from. “Initially, my original thought was, well, that’s a good idea, for council to support a mayor who’s done so much for the city. It’s her 90th birthday; it’s not like that’s going to happen every year.”

McCallion said that even without the offer taxpayers would be paying the bill if any a city official expensed the tickets, adding, “maybe the issue should be looked at by the integrity commissioner.”

“I wish the mayor a very happy birthday,” Councillor Eve Adams said after hearing the offer had been withdrawn. “I would hope that anyone attending the party would not use tax dollars to do so. Those attending should buy the $350 ticket with their own money.”

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Taxpayers are also on the hook for $875,000 to cover legal costs for the mayor and her son in an ongoing judicial inquiry. The inquiry is examining allegations of conflict of interest stemming from the mayor’s role in a land deal led by Peter McCallion. The overall tab being covered by the city for the inquiry is around $6 million.

“$10,000 is a drop in the bucket compared to $6 million,” said Saito, who has consistently voted against any taxpayer funding for the inquiry.

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