What's the process and who is involved?
The budget process is about offering valued programs to the community, making strategic investments in infrastructure and keeping property taxes as low as possible. It ensures the town’s resources are spent wisely as well as brings the town’s Strategic Plan to life by providing the necessary funds to move action plans forward.
Budget Committee
The Budget Committee is a Standing Committee of Council. Members include the Mayor and four councillors. The 2022 Budget Committee members are:
- Mayor Rob Burton
- Ward 6 Town and Regional Councillor Tom Adams (Chair)
- Ward 3 Town and Regional Councillor Dave Gittings
- Ward 5 Town and Regional Councillor Jeff Knoll
- Ward 7 Town and Regional Councillor Pavan Parmar
The Budget Committee receives an overview of the town’s finances and a draft plan on how we will deliver our programs and services for the coming year. Town staff will present highlights of their proposed budgets. The Budget Committee reviews the plans, makes recommendations, and approves requests to ensure appropriate funds are allocated for program and service delivery for that year.
Once the Budget Committee approves the proposed budget, it goes to Town Council for a vote.
Budget Committee meetings
Due to COVID-19, attendance at Town Hall was restricted and public meetings about the 2022 Budget were held by videoconference only. These meetings included
- June 21, 2021 – the first meeting of the 2022 Budget Committee was held to commence the budget process. At this meeting, Councillor Tom Adams was appointed as a Chair of the 2022 Budget Committee.
- June 21, 2021 – staff provided an overview of the 2022 budget process as well as the preliminary budget forecast.
- November 16, 2021 – overview and release of the 2022 budget book and rates and fees.
- November 23, 2021 – Commissioner presentations to review program budgets in more detail.
- November 30, 2021– public delegations
- December 2, 2021– public delegations
- December 14, 2021 – Budget Committee deliberations and recommendations
Virtual Open House
On Thursday, November 25 we held an open house to offer an opportunity to ask questions about Council’s key budget priorities and the 2022 Budget.