4 opportunities for you to provide input upfront in the 2013 budget

Monday, 11/5            6:30 p.m.– 8:30 p.m. at the King City Public Library

 Saturday,11/10         10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the Schomberg Public Library

 Wednesday, 11/21    6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the Nobleton Public Library

 Thursday, 11/22       7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at the Ansnorveldt Public Library

Why attend?  e.g. you can identify changes/initiatives that you would like to see; depending on the idea Staff may be able to provide a perspective on what it would cost to implement. If you doubt the value of some service currently being provided you can ask how much it is costing tax payers; that might lead you to ask Council to drop it.

Further below is the overall schedule for approving the budget and business.

In addition and in parallel there is review of “miscellaneous fees & charges.”  This covers building permit fee, fee for an application to the Committee of Adjustment etc. etc.  The fees and charges for 2013 will be considered at the November 26^th COW.

And finally there is the budget process for water and wastewater:  specifically the determination of rates. Rates for 2013 will be tabled at November 12, 2012 COW.

You may be thinking that it is a tad early for these meetings.  It reflects the goal of our Finance Manager to have an approved 2013 Budget by end of January 2013.  This goal reflects a significant improvement versus previous years when sometimes we have been as late as April; as in any enterprise lack of an approved budget hinders efficient planning.  (I suspect for 2014  he will target to complete before the year begins!)

The timeline for  Budget & Business Plan is as follows:

Draft presented at COW December 10.

Final considered for approval COW  1/14 COW.

Comments from public at the above 2 meetings are welcomed.

Both of above available for review on www.king.ca on the Thursday before the meeting dates.

Here is the notice for all these meetings. Also I have noted all these important meetings on my calendar (see right side of my website.)

I encourage you to attend one of the meetings in November as that is the beginning of the process and it is the place where you can discussion/dialogue with Finance.

I do hope you will participate in this very important process.  This determines how your tax dollars are spent. And, it is a major input into your property tax rate for 2013.