City of Powell River Council is planning consultation on its 2015 city budget.
At the Thursday, February 26, finance committee meeting, Councillor Russell Brewer, committee chair, said the city is close to finalizing the 2015 budget plan, so he would like to provide plenty of lead time for taxpayers to digest where the city is headed rather than revealing it the night before the deadline. Council will be making its final budget approval in May so ideally, over a three- to four-week period throughout April, public discussions will be held.
Shehzad Somji, the city’s chief financial officer, said hopefully the final version of this year’s budget will be presented at the city’s April finance committee meeting.
“Between now and the end of April, you can probably do some public consultation,” he said.
Brewer suggested that two open house sessions be held in April after Easter weekend. Last year, the city’s strategic priority open house was held in the lobby of city hall, but it was determined that Powell River Recreation Complex and Cranberry Seniors’ Centre would be more suitable locations. Staff has been directed to plan sessions at these locations for April with dates to be determined.
