Despite the current economic climate, the City of Hamilton closed out the last financial year with a $45,000 deficit. That was one of the figures coming out of the Corporation’s annual audit report for 2011.The report by KPMG is due to be signed off next week before the municipal elections on May 10. City Alderman Dennis Tucker commended the accounting firm for submitting the report ahead of time.“Submitting the report May 2 is a tribute to our team effort,” said Mr Tucker. “Under the most difficult circumstances our revenue was still considerably lower than usual, our expenses were well managed; we ended up with only a small deficit which shows the City of Hamilton is still financially stable.”Mayor Charles Gosling noted that this is “the first time within a four-year period the audit report has come in early”. The report was submitted during the monthly public meeting in the Mayor’s Parlour on Wednesday.According to City of Hamilton Secretary and COO Ed Benevides: “The financials will be formally printed and signed this week and will be sent to the Minister of Public Works as required, and posted on our website and published on Monday next.”“For 2009 and 2010 both years the audit was completed in good time and the financials sent to Government prior to June 30th . This year the audit was requested to be completed in time before the municipal elections so that the financials are ready for the incoming board and the Ministry will receive over a month earlier than required by law.”Mr Gosling added: “We wanted to leave a clean a slate as we possibly could. This decision was made back at the beginning of the year to bring the reporting of the audit forward. None of us were sure if we were running again, and despite the revenue challenges we had during 2011, we wanted it known that our Corporation was in a pretty good state.“When this team had won the last election we were greeted by a Peter Woolcock cartoon in The Royal Gazette of a sinking tall ship with the previous Mayor handing over command to myself.“With the help of particularly the elected members and the great work of the staff and executive we now have a refurbished vessel proudly at her moorings ready to drop anchor, raise sails and begin the next exciting voyage for the City. It has been a full three years, and one that I would gladly take on again,” said Mr Gosling.Meanwhile, roughly 31 city voters turned out yesterday for the advance poll for the upcoming municipal elections on May 10.When contacted by The Royal Gazette, Parliamentary Registrar Randy Scott said: “For events like this one there was very few taking advantage of the advance poll, not many people are travelling.“We look forward to the main event on May 10 when we expect a larger turnout,” said Mr Scott.The advance poll was held in the Mayor’s Parlour from 8am to 8pm yesterday for city voters who will be abroad next week.This year for the first time ever, Hamilton residents will have the right to vote in the municipal elections for City Hall. According to the Parliamentary Registrar there are 687 people registered to vote in this election.Mayor Gosling’s team is comprised of John Harvey, Marshall Minors, Dennis Tucker, Walter Cross, Roseanne Edwards, Pam Quarterly and Nicholas Swan. “We have spent the last several weeks canvassing the residents,” said Mr Gosling.“We have been well received and while some may be seeing us for the first time, we have had ten public town hall meetings during our three years at City Hall and have opened our meetings to the public, as well as encouraged public participation at these meetings.“I believe in an open-door policy and that if the voter has concerns or issues after our meeting, for them to contact my PA at City Hall and arrange a meeting. Several voters have taken me up on that over the last fortnight.“Our team looks forward to building upon this transparency and openness over the next three years.”They will be running against Team Hamilton, headed up by former Common Councilor Graeme Outerbridge who is running for mayor. Team Hamilton is comprised of Youth on the Move President Carlton Simmons, entrepreneur Donal Smith, former UBP Chairwoman Gwyneth Rawlins, lawyer Larry Scott, BIU chief organiser George Scott, Troy Symonds and Anthony Davis.