Opposition criticizes Plante administration over city budget surplus

The municipal opposition hammered Mayor Valérie Plante Monday for raising taxes even though the city ended up with a $139.5-million surplus for 2017.
Plante said after she was elected in November that the previous administration had left an unexpected $358-million deficit, which left her no choice but to raise taxes beyond the rate of inflation, contrary to her campaign promise.
But Montreal’s 2017 financial report, tabled on Thursday, revealed that the city posted a surplus, mainly