By NITZ ARANCON Correspondent INITIAL discussions on Mayor Oscar Moreno’s proposed P5.4-billion budget for city hall next year did not push through on Thursday because of the absence of city treasurer Glenn Bañez. The proposed budget was submitted by Moreno to the city council before he left for Vienna in October. Based on the law, the local government should have an approved annual budget before year-end. Councilor Teodulfo Lao Jr. said an initial meeting of members of the Local Finance Committee was scheduled at Kagay-an Restaurant on Thursday but it had to be cut  short because city budget officer Percy Salazar could not provide other members important data. Salazar presided over the meeting in the absence of Bañez who is the committee chairman. “Wala pa man makabaliksiBañezgikannagbakasyonsakalag-kalag, maongawalamadayonanginitial discussion sa budget,” said Lao. The meeting was supposed to prepare councilors for the 2017 budget hearings that would start next week, he said. Lao said one of the things councilors wanted to know from Bañez is how city hall would be able to generate enough revenues to justify Moreno’s P5.4-billion budget for 2017. “Konna-ay laing source of income ang city hall, walayproblimaang P5.4-billion  budget proposal ni Mayor Moreno, perokonwala,   gusto  namomasayran da-an gi-unsanilapag-come-up ang P5.4-billion proposed budget,” Lao said. Other councilors who came for the Thursday meeting were George Goking, Romeo Calizo, Reuben Daba, Suzette  Daba, Ma. Lourdes Gaane and Jay Pascual. Goking said Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya was supposed to come but like Bañez, he was still on an extended vacation. Goking said he was disappointed that the discussions were delayed because time was running out.