Have your say in helping shape the municipal budget

Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017 (Halifax, NS) – Regional Council will soon begin discussions surrounding the upcoming annual operating and capital budgets. But before those discussions begin, residents are encouraged to highlight their priorities for the upcoming year. The hands-on budget allocator tool lets citizens share their thoughts on where tax dollars should go. By providing a unique glimpse into the experience of balancing the city’s budget, this online tool allows residents to simulate adjusting the municipal tax dollars allocated to various services like transit, parks, fire, and policing – and see the potential impact this has on both service delivery and the overall budget. Also, residents are invited to dive into the Shape Your City online engagement portal to answer some key questions in the lead-up to the budget debate. All answers and opinions shared on this interactive website will be shared in staff reports to Regional Council. A preliminary report including comments already left on the Shape Your City portal will be provided to Regional Council early in this budget process, and then a final report will be given to the councillors prior to the final deliberation and vote on the budget in March. Citizens will again this year be given an opportunity to speak directly to Regional Council about specific priorities. Time will be set aside at the end of every business unit budget presentation for the public to provide insight and comments. The following dates have been set aside for business unit budget presentations: Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017 Transit Planning & Development Operations Support Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017 Parks & Recreation Library Support Services (CAO, Legal, Human Resources, Finance & Information Communication Technology), Auditor General Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017 Transportation and Public Works Halifax Regional Police Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017 Fiscal and Consolidated Accounts Tuesday, March 21, 2017 Full review of final budget For more information on the budget process and ways to have your say, go to www.shapeyourcityhalifax.ca/hfxtax2017 Source: Release

Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017 (Halifax, NS) – Regional Council will soon begin discussions surrounding the upcoming annual operating and capital budgets.

But before those discussions begin, residents are encouraged to highlight their priorities for the upcoming year.

The hands-on budget allocator tool lets citizens share their thoughts on where tax dollars should go. By providing a unique glimpse into the experience of balancing the city’s budget, this online tool allows residents to simulate adjusting the municipal tax dollars allocated to various services like transit, parks, fire, and policing – and see the potential impact this has on both service delivery and the overall budget.

Also, residents are invited to dive into the Shape Your City online engagement portal to answer some key questions in the lead-up to the budget debate. All answers and opinions shared on this interactive website will be shared in staff reports to Regional Council.

A preliminary report including comments already left on the Shape Your City portal will be provided to Regional Council early in this budget process, and then a final report will be given to the councillors prior to the final deliberation and vote on the budget in March.

Citizens will again this year be given an opportunity to speak directly to Regional Council about specific priorities. Time will be set aside at the end of every business unit budget presentation for the public to provide insight and comments.

The following dates have been set aside for business unit budget presentations:

Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017

  • Transit
  • Planning & Development
  • Operations Support

Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017

  • Parks & Recreation
  • Library
  • Support Services (CAO, Legal, Human Resources, Finance & Information Communication Technology), Auditor General

Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017

  • Transportation and Public Works
  • Halifax Regional Police
  • Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency

Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017

  • Fiscal and Consolidated Accounts

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

  • Full review of final budget

For more information on the budget process and ways to have your say, go to www.shapeyourcityhalifax.ca/hfxtax2017

Source: Release

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