CITY OPERATING BUDGET MEETINGS SCHEDULED

 The city’s annual operating budget process may be seen by many as dull, confusing and something to avoid at all costs. However, the budget really is a reflection of the vision (or lack there of) of your city council.  
It is important for citizens and organizations to know and to have input into what your local government officials are deciding as these choices affect the daily lives of citizens.

The schedule for this budget is much better than in past years in that there is more time than usual to review the document and to make a presentation to council committees. Credit should be given to the Mayor and Executive Policy Committee (EPC) for getting the message that rushing budgets through with little time for a public response is unacceptable.

 
This being an election year, one would expect the budget to be a little gentler than average. However, with a promise to continue the 12 year tax freeze and to include further business tax cuts, it is hard to imagine that there is not going to be some significant pain involved somewhere and to someone.

 
The draft budget will be released on Feb 16th. The public has the opportunity to appear in delegation at Standing Committees early in March and at a Special EPC meeting on March 15th. EPC makes it’s final recommendation to Council on March 17th. The final Council vote will take place at a Special meeting on March 23rd.

 
Details are as follows:
 
DRAFT BUDGET MADE PUBLIC AT SPECIAL EPC MEETING:
-Tuesday, February 16th, 2010 at 1:15 PM

OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC INPUT: 

STANDING POLICY COMMITTEES REVIEW DRAFT BUDGET AT THEIR REGULAR MEETINGS:

 
- Tuesday, March 2, 2010 - 9:00 a.m. - Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development
- Monday, March 8, 2010 - 9:00 a.m. - Standing Policy Committee on Protection and Community Services
- Tuesday, March 9, 2010 - 9:00 a.m. - Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works

 
EPC SPECIAL MEETING TO HEAR DELEGATIONS ON BUDGET:
Monday, March 15, 2010 at 9:00 a.m

 
CITY COUNCIL FINAL DEBATE AND VOTE:
Tuesday, March 23, 2010, commencing at 9:30 a.m.

 
To register to speak in delegation at any of these meetings please contact 311 by phone or 311@winnipeg.ca. 

 All meetings will be held at 510 Main Street, Council Building.

 Thank you for your interest in Civic Issues!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 at 11:54 am and is filed under Jenny's eNewsletter. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.