Some residents say city council needs to be more open to public input during the budget process.
Council approved the more than 400-page budget in principle on Tuesday. The total gross for the operating and capital budgets are more than $418 million with the net totaling more than $223 million.
Although approved, residents were given a chance to give input on ways to improve the budget before it’s ratified in March.
The suggestions ranged from halting the development of the proposed event centre to finding more efficiencies within city departments.
But most of those who gave deputations on Wednesday wanted council to allow the public to become more involved in the decision making process.
Bob Parisien told council during his deputation that whenever some tries to give a suggestion they’re cut short and then council does whatever they want do anyway.
“I’ve been in this city for 45 years or so but I’m getting pretty depressed about what I’m seeing,” Parisien told council. “I don’t think you’re listening to the public enough. I don’t think you people are asking for too much public input. It seems to be closed room decisions.”
Patty Bates said the way the budget schedule didn’t allow for the public enough time to fully understand the whole process and felt rushed.
“This rush schedule kind of shows a lack of respect for the huge job council has to do to oversee the budget,” Bates said. “It also shows a lack of respect for the taxpayers who are going to be the ones required to pay for the millions to fund that budget.”
Frank Armiento also wanted council to seek more input from the public.
He said he was initially disappointed when he heard the post-budget public meeting was going to be cancelled but glad when council brought it back.
Don Patola took issue with the 3.5 per cent increase to property taxes. He suggested that when organizations come to council to ask for funding they should be turned away.
“Learn to say no and advise them to go out and fundraise,” he said. “Council gives a million dollars here and thousands of dollars elsewhere, it is no wonder that you seek a higher tax increase.”
Following the deputations, council agreed there has been too much confusion surrounding the budget.
Northwood Coun. Mark Bentz said council needs to be a lot better at communicating.
“I certainly know the budget is confusing,” Bentz said. “We hear terms of tax rates, levies and assessment and dealing with Full Time Equivalents. There’s a whole lot of information here. We need to distill it in the most simple way possible.”
He said there’s been some confusion about staffing levels.
The city is budgeting for 12.9 full-time increase in Full Time Equivalent and 2.9 part-time.
Bentz said five of the FTE positions aren’t new but 10 part-time positions that council approved to be full-time for this year. He pointed out that of the 6.4 positions in the rate supported budget, four of those jobs are temporary.
Those jobs are to help at the Atlantic Avenue Treatment Plant to make sure it’s operating properly.
At-Large Coun. Aldo Ruberto added if the city doesn’t spend the money to repair and maintain facilities and infrastructure such as roads then taxpayers will pay more later.
