The City of Greater Sudbury’s interactive, online public input tool for the 2018 budget is now available.
The budget tool allows residents to submit input for the 2018 budget, as well as gain insight into the municipal budget process and the impact changes in services have on property taxes. This year, residents can personalize results by including their property value assessment to view the impact their choices have on their own property taxes.
“This council is committed to responsive, fiscally prudent, open government and public input is an essential part of the budget process,” said Mayor Brian Bigger. “I encourage residents to provide comments on the issues that matter most to them and enable their council to make decisions based on the needs of the community.”
City council directed staff to build a budget that results in no more than a 3.5-per-cent property tax increase, with options for a 3-per-cent and a 2.5-per-cent increase.
The budget public input tool asks residents to choose how they would distribute funds to different city services and departments, keeping this year’s council direction in mind.
“This is the second year of a new budget process, and I am excited to launch the improved interactive, online tool,” said City of Greater Sudbury Chief Administrative Officer Ed Archer.
“This year, residents will be able to personalize the tool to see firsthand the effects their choices have on service levels provided, and the associated costs.”
Residents without access to a computer or the internet are encouraged to attend one of the 13 library locations to access these services at no charge.
The results of the public input submissions will be shared with Council and the public as part of the 2018 budget process, which is expected to conclude in December 2017.
More information regarding the budget process can be found here.
Residents can provide input at GreaterSudbury.ca/BudgetInput2018 until 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 29.
