Public input being sought

Municipality of Barrington holding budget input session

A public input session that is an initial stage in the 2018/19 budget planning process for Barrington Municipality is being held on Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Municipal Administrative Center in Barrington.

“We’re in the very preliminary stages in the budget preparation right now, compiling information and part of that is asking the public where they want council to focus. That’s the intent of that meeting,” said CAO Rob Frost. “We’re asking the public want they want to see.”

The meeting will be an informal workshop setting where “everybody will get their opportunity to provide input, talk about where we should be, and where we should be targeting money,” said Frost.

Municipal council will be holding numerous budget meetings in the coming months, said Frost, noting all meetings are open to the public and community feedback is always welcomed, but the Jan. 23 workshop will be the main venue for public input.

This is the second year that the municipality has held a public input session as part of the budget planning process. A survey was also conducted last year, which the municipality may do again, said Frost.

Frost said the goal of the municipality is to have the budget finalized and approved by the last week of April or the first of May. The 2017/18 budget was about $8 million.

More Nova Scotians will be eligible for emergency home heating funding this winter through an enhanced Good Neighbour Energy Fund program launched on Jan. 15.

This year income thresholds have increased from $16,000 to $21,000 for a single income and from $ 24,000 to $ 39,000 for a family of four people.

Through this program government, Nova Scotia Power and The Salvation Army partner to provide financial assistance to low income Nova Scotians who are in emergency need of home heating assistance.

“The Good Neighbour Energy Fund allows The Salvation Army to continue its work of providing basic needs to struggling individuals and families across Nova Scotia,” said Major Wade Budgell, divisional commander of The Salvation Army Maritime Division. “This program offers a sense of hope and dignity in a time of crisis. We are grateful for the generous support of our partners who allow us to continue to serve those most in need in our communities.”

Last year, the program helped 1,877 citizens and families heat their homes. This year, government is contributing up to $800,000 to the fund. Nova Scotia Power is providing $150,000.

“We strongly believe in our shared responsibility to help those in our communities who are struggling to afford basic needs, such as heat,” said Karen Hutt, president and CEO, Nova Scotia Power. “For more than 20 years this program has provided a helping hand to those who need it most, and we’re pleased to continue to be a part of it.”

The Good Neighbour Energy Fund runs from Jan. 15 to April 30.

For more information, visit www. salvationarmy. ca/ maritime/gnef/.