For the second straight year, Estevan city council wants to receive the public’s input for its upcoming budget deliberations.
Council sought feedback for this year’s financial plan, which was released in January. But they only received six letters regarding the budget, and nobody showed up at a budget meeting to offer their thoughts on
the document.
The lack of response hasn’t dissuaded council from trying again. City treasurer Jeff Ward, who is also the acting city manager, told the Mercury they expect more feedback when council tackles the 2016 budget in the coming weeks.
“By taking that approach and letting people at least have the option to voice their concerns, it really increases transparency, and that’s what we’re trying to do,” said Ward.
There was some trepidation with the process for the 2015 budget, because they were concerned they might have an abundance of people at the meeting. But then they didn’t have anybody show up, which was disappointing.
“I think this year we’ll be pushing it, and letting everybody know through the media outlets, and hopefully we can get some feedback in early January,” said Ward.
Even if someone questions the need for a capital project, or if someone says they support the city’s direction, then that’s a good thing, Ward said.
Council is expected to receive their first look at the budget during a committee meeting on Dec. 7. Then the document, including its capital projects and proposed tax and utility rate increases, will be released to the public.
Council’s next open meeting is slated for Dec. 14.
“We hope to have the budget narrative package out for the middle of December,” said Ward. “Then we hope we have some interest from the public and citizens to come and speak at one of our first meetings of the new year.”
Ward anticipates the public budget meeting will happen on Jan. 4 or
11, 2016.
“We will take any method that people want to talk to us, whether it’s letters to city hall or even something on the website,” said Ward. “Any of that kind of stuff will be brought towards that meeting, and we’ll try to accumulate and consolidate all that information so we
can present it.”
While he didn’t release many specifics on the document, Ward did note there is money to repair and resurface Kensington Avenue between King Street and the Estevan Comprehensive School, and complete the repairs on Milne Crescent that started a few years ago. The budget also includes borrowing $1.5 million to finance capital projects.
The budget is also scheduled to include utility rate and property tax increases.
