WINNIPEG, MB - The Chair of the Standing Policy Committee on Finance is taking steps to initiate a new public consultation process to assist with the development of the 2014 Capital and Operating Budgets.
"As Chair of the Standing Policy Committee on Finance, I am committed to extensive public consultation on the budget," said Deputy Mayor Russ Wyatt. "We want to ensure we engage Winnipeggers in meaningful consultation that happens early enough in the budgeting process to allow us to consider and incorporate ideas that come forward."
Today, Monday, Dec. 3, 2012, the Standing Policy Committee on Finance passed a motion to earmark funds in the 2013 Operating Budget for a new public consultation process that will take place in the first half of 2013 to assist with the development of the 2014 Operating and Capital Budgets. The new consultation process may include, but not be limited to, holding focus groups, public meetings, public opinion polling and online input.
This year, the City of Winnipeg has adopted a new budgetary process, stemming from the recommendations in the 2008 Capital Project Management Audit. In order to optimize the strategic budget planning, the 2013 Operating and Capital Budgets will be adopted at the same time. Budget adoption is planned for early in 2013.