The question of whether Windsor should have an Auditor General is one issue in the race for mayor in this month's municipal election.
Incumbent Drew Dilkens says creating an independent AG's office isn't necessary. PricewaterhouseCoopers provides the service for about $300,000 a year.
Challenger Matt Marchand disagrees and says an AG's office would create more transparency and accountability at city hall.
The city of Greater Sudbury is one of four municipalities in the province with its' own Auditor General.
Greater Sudbury Auditor General Ron Foster says their budget is $370,000 a year for a staff of two to serve a community about two-thirds the size of Windsor.
In the past five years they've generated 37 audits or around 7 per year.
Foster believes his office provides a lot for what it costs Greater Sudbury but says there's no question an audit firm like PricewaterhouseCoopers can provide the necessary service.
"Each municipality is a bit different in terms of the risks in there, but I would venture that a large firm like PwC could provide any of the services that we can provide here individually," says Foster.
He says it really boils down to getting what you pay for.
"The only tradeoff that I've seen when buying services, is that it comes with usually a fairly hefty price tag," says Foster. "It's not that they don't have the ability to provide, it's perhaps at what cost?"
Foster says the city of Ottawa has the next largest Auditor General's office with a budget of $1.9-million and a staff of eight.
Toronto has it's own Auditor General with an annual budget of $6.4-million and a staff or 36. They produced 13 audits and five investigative reports.
The Town of Markham has an office of Auditor General, although it contracts out the work.
The municipal election is October 22nd.