Budget reviews to overlap councils

Property tax notices for 2010 still haven't been put in the mail, but city council's finance committee has set in motion next year's budget process, which will overlap the old and new councils this fall.

According to an outline given to the committee on Monday, budget discussions will begin in September with a review of user fees and the three-year capital plan. Council will also get a look at the proposed property tax increase for 2011, should one be necessary.

Council will review the operating budget starting in November, after the Oct. 18 municipal election. The capital and operating budget is expected to be finalized in December.

The potential for change among council members mid-process wasn't a concern for committee members Monday. Coun. Gareth Jones said new councillors will make their own decisions about the 2011 budget.

"They may agree, or they may not agree," Jones said, adding he believes council meetings before the election will lay the groundwork for any newcomers.

"It's good to have a base document to start with."

Budget orientation

City manager Bill Holtby said he is already prepared to host an orientation session for the new council members, which he said could run up to 40 hours. Each new member will receive about six, one-and-a-half-inch binders of information on everything from the Municipal Government Act to how to submit notices of motion and information requests.

"It gives a general understanding of what we do for the business," Holtby said. "Our objective is to do (orientation) right out of the gate, after the election."

City administration changed the budget schedule based on council feedback after the 2010 budget. By reviewing the capital plan in September, council will get an overview of the 10-year capital plan with a breakdown of spending needs over the next three years.

Holtby said his staff started working on the budget in January, when council decided its priorities for the kinds of projects they would like to see funded over the next three years. From there, city departments worked out individual budgets that will be presented to senior management at the end of June, he said.