Budget breakdown

Resident, councillor want to see Charlottetown host public meeting for budget outline, feedback

A Charlottetown resident says hosting a public meeting to receive feedback on the city’s upcoming 2018 budget would create greater confidence in the process.

Resident Laurent Beaulieu wants to see the city host a town hall-style meeting and Q&A session on upcoming budget.

While the city now accepts feedback submitted online and through the mail, Beaulieu said a public meeting would be more direct and create greater confidence among residents.

He said it is also difficult for many residents to speak on the budget without having a draft version available.

“You’re asked to give ideas on where the money should be spent next year... How can (residents) without any knowledge on the budget give any kind of intelligent comment about where the money should be spent,” said Beaulieu.

“So this is very, very unfair. People are asked to pay taxes, it’s like you’re going to spend my money and not tell me in advance what’s going to happen with it.”

Beaulieu said he would like to see a process similar to other cities he’s lived in.

He said the mayor should make public presentations of the draft budget and a “vision for the year.”

“The public listening to this would then have an opinion of what’s going on and where the money is being spent. Then the public can ask questions like ‘why (is money being spent) on this and not on that’,” said Beaulieu, who sent letters to the mayor and council requesting the public meeting be held.

Coun. Mitch Tweel has also made the call for a public meeting to discuss the budget.

“I believe that would be much more advantageous. It creates a better understanding.

Much more awareness its good for council and equally if not more important for the residents,” Tweel said during the last monthly city council meeting.

Unless the city decides to host a public meeting, residents must make their comments on the 2018 budget by noon on Wednesday, Jan. 31.

“So this is very, very unfair. People are asked to pay taxes, it’s like you’re going to spend my money and not tell me in advance what’s going to happen with it.” Laurent Beaulieu