nstn
09-22-2004, 12:55 AM
It seems as if the LVEC capital and operating budgets are still largely unknown to even those who are closely involved with the proposed project.
Perhaps we should take a leaf out of the budgetting process for the City of Ottawa which is adopting a broad public consultation on its 2005 operating and capital budgets (see below).
Certainly there is no clear reason why the LVEC should not be part of this detailed review.
Project timing can be considered after a careful and detailed public examination of the project budgets to determine whether it is feasible to proceed with it.
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CITY GOES TO PUBLIC FOR BUDGET IDEAS
OTTAWA - CBC September 21, 2004
Facing another big budget shortfall, Ottawa's city staff and politicians are seeking input from the public, hoping to avoid the bitterness of the 2004 budget process.
Public consultations begin Tuesday with the release of the 2005 budget directions document.
Mayor Bob Chiarelli has said the city is facing a $40-million to $60-million shortfall next year. But, he said, new sources of revenue - such as GST rebates from the federal government and a possible share of fuel taxes - could bring that figure down.
Last year, when the city cut $80 million and 500 jobs at city hall, the council deliberations were long and acrimonious. And in the end, some key decisions were reversed after public outcry.
This year, council hopes that including the public in the process before they set their priorities will make for a smoother, more productive process.
"We have clearly said from the beginning that none of the nonsense that went on last year, where we were pitting one person against the other, is going to be allowed to continue," said Jan Harder, the councillor for Bell-South Nepean.
"We recognize the fact it wasn't healthy for the city. It certainly wasn't healthy for the communities of interest and it wasn't healthy for us either."
City Manager Kent Kirkpatrick says months of public consultations before and after December's draft budget should lead to fewer surprises in the spring.
"Council says it's very important. The community has said it's very important. We think we've developed a process that is quite meaningful in terms of getting input from the community," he said.
Councillors will lead the first round of public consultations next month. A second round of consultations is planned for January.
Perhaps we should take a leaf out of the budgetting process for the City of Ottawa which is adopting a broad public consultation on its 2005 operating and capital budgets (see below).
Certainly there is no clear reason why the LVEC should not be part of this detailed review.
Project timing can be considered after a careful and detailed public examination of the project budgets to determine whether it is feasible to proceed with it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CITY GOES TO PUBLIC FOR BUDGET IDEAS
OTTAWA - CBC September 21, 2004
Facing another big budget shortfall, Ottawa's city staff and politicians are seeking input from the public, hoping to avoid the bitterness of the 2004 budget process.
Public consultations begin Tuesday with the release of the 2005 budget directions document.
Mayor Bob Chiarelli has said the city is facing a $40-million to $60-million shortfall next year. But, he said, new sources of revenue - such as GST rebates from the federal government and a possible share of fuel taxes - could bring that figure down.
Last year, when the city cut $80 million and 500 jobs at city hall, the council deliberations were long and acrimonious. And in the end, some key decisions were reversed after public outcry.
This year, council hopes that including the public in the process before they set their priorities will make for a smoother, more productive process.
"We have clearly said from the beginning that none of the nonsense that went on last year, where we were pitting one person against the other, is going to be allowed to continue," said Jan Harder, the councillor for Bell-South Nepean.
"We recognize the fact it wasn't healthy for the city. It certainly wasn't healthy for the communities of interest and it wasn't healthy for us either."
City Manager Kent Kirkpatrick says months of public consultations before and after December's draft budget should lead to fewer surprises in the spring.
"Council says it's very important. The community has said it's very important. We think we've developed a process that is quite meaningful in terms of getting input from the community," he said.
Councillors will lead the first round of public consultations next month. A second round of consultations is planned for January.