A judge is set to decide next April whether Mayor Rob Ford will face an audit of his election expenses.

After a City Hall tribunal determined that Ford should face an audit of his 2010 election expenses Ford appealed the decision to court. The audit was originally ordered on May 13, 2011 when citizens Adam Chaleff-Freudenthaler and Max Reed identified a series of irregularities in Ford’s financial statements, including what appears to be an improper loan to Ford’s campaign from Ford’s family company, Doug Ford Holdings Inc, as well as the campaign spending more than its legal spending limit.

A court date is now set for April 16-18, 2012. A series of motions with regard to the scope of the appeal will be heard later this fall on a date to be determined by the court. The case will be heard by the Ontario Court of Justice at Old City Hall.

“Rob Ford has said repeatedly that he has nothing to hide but his actions speak louder than his words,” said Chaleff-Freudenthaler. “If Ford really has nothing to hide, he will drop this appeal and save taxpayers the money it will cost the City to defend it.”

“Saddling taxpayers with unnecessary legal bills while threatening massive service cuts is nothing short of cruel.”

If found guilty, Ford could be removed from office.