Yes this is confusing. There appears to be a conflict in his accounting though. While he claims his spending has increased modestly, the tax increase is double that of inflation. So the municipal taxes increase at a higher rate than his claimed spending increases. And his government still encounters deficits. ... Wear a hat reading about this, it will prevent scalp damage from the head scratching.

Of course Smitherman's and Rossi's positions are also as mathematically bizarre. Contracting out of services isn't the panacea people think it is. Often such contracting out leads to other forms of government corruption. And usually service declines on full contracting out. Their mathematics appear equally fudged.

Can't we ever get a politician who uses basic grade six level math in their economic predictions?