THUNDER BAY – Only halfway through the 2016 fiscal budget, public consultations are already beginning to determine local priorities going into 2017.
The first such meeting will be held Tuesday at the 55 Plus Centre on River Street at 6:30 p.m.
Budget committee chairman and Coun. Frank Pullia said every city department will have officers on hand to address citizens’ individual interests.
“We’re building on the success of last year. Last year was a little bit late and we wanted to start early because we wanted to make sure the community is fully engaged,” Pullia said.
“We want to inform the public and we want to get their input and their feedback on how they want to see his city move forward, when we talk about taxation.”
By all accounts, balancing next year’s municipal budget will be a challenge. The public meeting will occur a day after administration will advise city council how it believes it can narrow this year’s $3.2-million budget deficit forecast by year’s end.
Infrastructure projects have been deferred, reserves have been depleted, and councillors say resources are needed to adapt the city’s infrastructure to increasing storms of climate change.
Pullia hopes the exercise will give his committee a temperature reading on the top priorities of its constituents.
“Council is willing, ready and able to confront the financial situation but we need to engage the public. We need their input. We need their understanding that we’re all in this together,” Pullia said.
“We were elected to make decisions we will be making decisions. Some are tough decisions. We want the public to know what we’re dealing with.”
