Mayoral candidate Kelley Moore says her promises to streamline operations at city hall and find efficiencies “are not about cutting jobs.”

Moore was publicly criticized this week by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Saskatchewan and the Saskatoon District and Labour Council (SDLC) for pledging to review staffing at city hall in an effort to reduce the 2017 property tax.

Moore did not make herself available for an interview on Wednesday to respond to the unions’ statements, instead releasing an open letter Thursday saying her platform of “reigning in expenditures” is about more than just jobs.

“My approach focuses on taking a fresh look at operations at city hall to ensure that citizens are served in the best way possible. That may mean some reimagining of the organization, creating opportunities for training and advancement or developing completely new opportunities. It may also mean a rethinking of how we are managed,” Moore said in her letter.

Moore was also criticized this week by the North Saskatoon Business Association (NSBA) for being endorsed by the city’s transit union, which is in the middle of contract negotiations with the city. Moore has said she has not made any deals with the transit union in exchange for their public support.