The town is getting a head start on the 2019 budget, with a promise of more public consultation and a plan to wrap it up before Christmas.
Erin councillors approved a timetable at their Sept. 4 meeting that includes an initial public consultation period (Sept. 5 to Oct. 5) and three budget workshops with the newly-elected council (Nov. 13 to 15 at 6:30pm), even before they take office.
Those workshops will be open to the public, but communications officer Jessica Spina said it is unlikely there will be a special meeting just for public input.
Last year there was virtually no public response at a budget meeting.
Based on recent input during development of the Citizen Engagement Charter, Spina said initial public feedback will be gathered with a budget survey through the town website and then reported to council.
After the workshops with the council-elect, there will be a period from Nov. 16 to Dec. 5 for them to get further input from the public.
“I don’t think the town has ever had this level of engagement,” said CAO Nathan Hyde.
The national Consumer Price Index accelerated from 1.7 to 2.9 per cent this year, but town spending increases are initially limited to 2%, with managers expected to find 1% in savings.
The initial budget will be based on no increase to current staffing and no cost-of-living pay increases, but will include contractual obligations and allowance for fuel and hydro cost increases.
“Changes in service levels will be guided by the community feedback and submitted as resource requests and/or capital requests,” said finance director Ursula D’Angelo.
She introduced a three-year financial plan last year, and hopes to expand it now to four years “to assist with the planning of resources to optimize delivery of services.”
On Dec. 5, staff will present the draft budget to councillors, just two days after they are sworn in. There will be public consultation at this meeting.
Resource requests from staff will be considered. Council members could propose resolutions to change the budget, to be voted on by the full council.
A final budget and user fee bylaw will be presented for possible approval by council on Dec. 18.
Councillor Jeff Duncan questioned the timing.
“I’m not sure what the real rush is to make sure this is done prior to the new year,” he said.
“If the final adoption was at the end of January, I think it would give the new council a little more opportunity to digest the budget.”
Mayor Allan Alls said having the budget set before the new year helps get tenders out for capital projects before contractors get booked by other communities.
“We’re at the front of the line-up rather than being at the end of the line-up, where we end up taking a bit of a punishment because they already have a lot of work,” Alls said.
An overall amount will be set aside for community grants, and groups can apply for grants in January.
