Fresno City Council Member Brian Calhoun offered more sharp words Tuesday as he called on Fresno County officials to release their budget next week.

Calhoun, also a candidate for the Board of Supervisors, staged a news conference on county turf -- outside the Hall of Records. He sent out a news release on his city stationery and said he was speaking as a council member. Calhoun is running against incumbent Susan Anderson for the District 2 supervisor's job.

Calhoun said the city is releasing its budget next week and said the county should do the same so citizens can prepare for cuts. The county has caught flak -- including some from Calhoun last week -- over recently delaying release of its budget until a few days after the June 3 election.

Anderson said the county is following its regular routine in issuing the budget; she and others say the release date has nothing to do with the election.

Calhoun is "trying to make a big issue out of nothing -- that's what happens during political campaigns," she said.

In prepared remarks, Calhoun described the county budget as a "hostage" and said the city of Fresno and other agencies need to know how the county's multimillion dollar shortfall could affect their budgets. He expressed specific concern about rumored cuts in the sheriff's department, District Attorney's office and health department.

"Bad news doesn't get any better by waiting longer to tell the truth," he said.

Calhoun was backed by representatives from the Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce and the Fresno Police Officers Association. Both organizations have endorsed his candidacy; Calhoun said both have an independent interest in the county budget and how cuts could affect public safety and other services in the community.