Prince Rupert's City Councillors will gain one last bit of information tonight to help guide them in the path ahead towards finalizing the Prince Rupert Financial Plan and Budget for 2022.
At tonight's Council Session, CFO Corrine Bomben will deliver one last report, this one a compilation review of the range of feedback which staff has received in drafting the recommendations for 2022 financials, the focus on the night from the online and email engagement that the staff received since the process began in early March.
The Three page report is available through the Agenda for the Community of the Whole and notes of an increase in participation this year compared to last.
The simulation was open for four weeks and the data received is attached. This year we received 28 budget submissions. There were 1,696 page views with an average time on the site of 16 minutes. For comparison in 2021 we had 14 Budget submissions and there were 462 page views with an average time on the site of 8 and a half minutes.
From the submissions from those 28 participants, it's noted that 2/3rds of those indicated that the plans for a 3.63 percent tax increase were fine; while three quarters of those responding had no quarrel with the current level of fees and charges submitted by the Finance Office.
Among some of the findings when it comes to expenses, 79% of the respondents noted a desire to decrease the Public Safety Budget for both Police and Fire Services, one third want an increase for Recreation budgets while fifty percent want an increase in road paving and sidewalk renewal.
The Full Report can be reviewed below:
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While more residents were inclined to log on to explore the budget themes for 2022, of note from the two public engagement periods offered this year in March and April, was the realization that no one participated in the public call for comment previous to the Regular Council sessions.
The shift to in Council Session public consultations from the larger community hall themes took place a few years ago as attendance began to decline for the larger venue events.
With the delivery of tonight's report, Council members will then be asked to provide direction to City Staff so they can prepare the Financial plan and Tax Bylaw required in time for a May 13th deadline.
You can view tonight's report presentation as part of the Monday Council session which will be live streamed from City Hall at 7PM
More notes on this evening's Council session can be explored through our Council Preview Feature.
A wider overview of the full Budget Process for 2022 is available from our Archive page.
Cross posted from the North Coast Review.
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