Dawson City will remain without elected leaders at least until the fall.

Community Services Minister Glenn Hart was asked this morning during an interview when the people of the Yukon's second-largest community will be voting on a new mayor and council.

'Hopefully, this fall,' said Hart.

Dawson has been without an elected mayor and council for close to a year. Hart fired the mayor and trustee in April 2004 because the town was more than $4 million in debt.

Since then, government-appointed trustee Ray Hayes has been in charge of the community.

Last year, Hayes and Hart had hoped a byelection could be held by this month.

But Hart said the fact the forensic audit into the town's finances took so long to finish is a reason the byelection won't be sooner.

The minister said the government is reviewing the recommendations it received in early March in the forensic audit. In total, there were 31 recommendations made about the town.

Hart wants the community to review the audit as well.

Last Thursday, the minister tabled a new bill the Dawson Municipal Governance Restoration Act.

The bill permits the territorial government to hand the town a loan to pay off all of its current debts, some of which are owed to the territory.

The new law will also call on the town to create an indemnity bylaw that will provide for a 'reasonable' salary for the mayor and the councillors.

The bylaw would also set out that expenses for travel must be approved by Dawson's town manager before the trip. The cost of the trip must be consistent with the territorial government's travel rates.

Once Hart is satisfied with the bylaw, then no amendment to it in the future could be made without the minister's approval.

Hart said the new law is necessary because he doesn't want the town put into the same poor financial position by a future government.

In the forensic audit, the spending of officials for various trips, especially former mayor Glen Everitt, was called into question.

The mayoralty will remain a part-time job, Hart said.