To better understand the kinds of decisions City of Powell River council is faced with at budget time, local taxpayers will have a new tool to use this year.
City council confirmed on Thursday, November 3, that local taxpayers will be able to use online budget simulator Citizen Budget to help provide staff with thoughts and feedback on high-level spending decisions.
Councillor and finance committee chair Russell Brewer said the simulator will help the city provide a more engaging way for the public to communicate regarding budget priorities.
“It’ll provide folks with a bit more awareness on where their tax dollars are going,” said Brewer.
The simulator is based on last year’s tax figures and allows people to use their assessed property values to see how their taxes pay for municipal services such as fire and police, waste and recycling collection and parks and recreation.
Earlier this year, councillor Karen Skadsheim brought the idea to use Citizen Budget to committee, picking up on something former city councillor Chris McNaughton had hoped to see incorporated into the budgetary process.
The simulator will be available from Monday, November 14, through Friday, December 9, through a link on the city’s website at powellriver.ca. Mayor Dave Formosa said the tool will help provide valuable insight.
“It really gives the public the opportunity to put their hands on the steering wheel and say, ‘This is what we should do,’” said Formosa.
It also gives taxpayers the chance to see what the effects are when service levels are adjusted through either raising or lowering the amount of funding the service receives, he added.
The simulator gives the public the opportunity to understand what kinds of decisions councillors have to make when it comes to spending, said Formosa.
“You’re going to be a city councillor, an accountant and chief financial officer,” said Formosa. “You’ll be able to go through the different processes and see the difference it makes in tax rates.”
Citizen Budget’s default setting is to create a balanced budget, the reality all municipal councils face in the province, said Brewer.
Community budget open houses often have low attendance and the hope is the new resource will boost participation, he added.
Use of this tool is not expected to replace in-person consultations, but only enhance the collection of feedback.
“We really hope people take advantage of this,” said Formosa.
City staff will collect the public’s responses through the simulator and present them to the city’s finance committee on January 12.
Chief financial officer Kathleen Day outlined a plan to have the 2017 financial plan process concluded by May 4. The city’s draft operating budget will be released on January 13, and then at the January 26 and February 23 finance committee meetings the public will be asked for its thoughts on the budget.
City of Powell River’s updated draft operating and capital budgets are expected in March.
