Residents offered a say in municipal priorities
- Details
- Published on Thursday, February 25, 2016
By Eoin Devereux
Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press
A pre-budget consultation, set for Monday, Feb. 29, will allow Neepawa taxpayers to have their say on what the spending priorities should be in the 2016 municipal budget. Councillor and chair of the Finance and Administration committee, Bill Stilwell, said this gathering has been arranged to allow the public an opportunity to say where their tax dollars are spent.
鈥淲e want this to be the public鈥檚 chance to tell us what鈥檚 important to them,鈥� said Stilwell. 鈥淭here are several important projects that are under consideration. Some people want to see a new hospital or a recreation facility or they prefer the focus to be on infrastructure. These are all expensive projects that need to be prioritized,鈥� said Stilwell. 鈥淭he only way to know what the priorities of the ratepayers are is for them to tell us.鈥�
The evening is expected to have a similar structure as last year鈥檚 meeting, where a series of questions that were designed to help prioritize town spending were initially asked. The public was then allowed to voice their opinions on specific proposals already discussed or bring up new ideas for consideration. Stilwell said that last year鈥檚 public dialogue was well received and assisted council in its decision making. He added that it鈥檚 very important for people to take the time out and participate in this process, not only to assist with the 2016 budget, but with Neepawa鈥檚 long term vision.
鈥淭his is more than just one year. You can help shape the extended vision of our community for the next five or 10 years. Where do people want to see our spending go? Is it roads? Quality of life improvements via facilities? What do you think should be the priorities to encourage growth and sustainability? If we don鈥檛 get public input on those important decisions, we, as Council, have to make the decisions on our own.鈥� said Stilwell.
The meeting will begin at 7:00 pm in the Council Chambers room at the Neepawa Town Office on 275 Hamilton Street.
