Budgeting for the future.

I have followed municipal budgets for a few years now. It seems to me that municipal budgets are done like this.

Dear Department Heads from Council: Please provide council with your projected spending needs for the next year.

Dear Council from Department Heads: Here is our wish list for everything we can possibly imagine we will need.

Dear Department Heads from Council: Are you crazy? - That represents a 16% increase in property taxes, We would be run out of town. Please trim your projected spending needs.

Dear Council from Department Heads: If we postpone some needed infrastructure improvements, take money from our reserves and reduce some of the services we provide we can get by on a 10% increase.

Dear Department Heads from Council: After spending money on a consultant we have determined that a 5% increase is the threshold of pain that voters can stand. Please make the necessary adjustments to your figures.

Dear Council from Department Heads: After hiring several consultants to help us make these tough decisions we have trimmed services back even more and eliminated several front line positions and depleted our reserves. We think we can get by on 5%.

Dear Department Heads: Excellent - We will be viewed by the public as fiscal wizards. 16% to 5% - Folks will be dancing in the street. We will remember this during your salary review.

Dear Public from Council: Times are tough - We your elected officials are pleased to announce that after much debate your tax increase will only be 5%. We have made some cut backs to staff and services but we think you will understand. The problem is not us but funding cutbacks from senior governments. Remember who to blame next election.

How it should be done:

Dear Department heads from Council: Ratepayers believe that we spend too much money for the services we provide. Many companies have reduced their spending by 10% without cuts to services or staff. You folks are compensated as the experts in your field and your budget has been reduced by 10% so please present us with your plan to deal with the cuts. P.S. - Front line workers, services and repairs and maintenance for infrastructure are not to be cut. Please ensure that you carefully review your budget to meet this goal to avoid council making decisions for your department. We will remember how you did at your performance review!

Dear Council from Department Heads: We did it - Friggin unbelievable! Never even hired a consultant! We talked with our staff and unions and came up with some creative ideas not only for cost savings but also increasing revenue from sources other than the tax payer. Reserves are safe and we kept a little to add to them just in case. We have a few positions that will open up and we are developing our current human resources to fill only the ones we need internally. We may even be hiring some new folks to join our team. We think the public will be happy with the enhanced services available. Please remember our front line workers during performance reviews.

Dear Department Heads from Council: Thanks - Good job!

Dear Public from Council: We are pleased to announce that thanks to our staff, we are leaving some extra money in your wallet this year and providing you with better services. Please go out and buy something. Times are tough and the economy needs you!


 This election "Vote for your Wallet"

Cheers
Tim Lobzun for Mayor of Ingersoll

You can email me at timlobzun@yahoo.com or visit my FB page "Tim Lobzun for Mayor of Ingersoll"