The City of Welland’s Budget Review Committee (BRC) kicked off the 2022 budget process last week, and yesterday Council approved the timeline to discuss and gather public input on 2022 operating, capital, and water and wastewater budgets.

Council provided staff directions for preparing the 2022 budget, which included, but are not limited to such tasks as targeting a zero per cent tax increase after assessment and growth, preparing a capital budget and forecast for 2022-2031, and that all 10 years of the capital forecast be fully funded.

“From my perspective, the city’s budget is vital to our citizens; it provides the funding to support all strategic community priorities, service delivery, and programming our citizens depend on,” said David McLeod, councillor and budget review committee chair. “A progressive budget must focus on operational efficiencies while at the same time not ignoring past or present challenges. Furthermore, our community expects that we continue to invest in our city’s long-term collective prosperity. It is my belief that the public’s input helps the budget committee hear viewpoints directly from citizens and ensures we deliver a responsive budget on behalf of those we serve.”

While deliberating the budgets, the BRC will focus on health and wellness, good governance, economic prosperity, new jobs, fiscal sustainability, and infrastructure renewal.

To engage the public, the City created Your Budget Talks 2022 on the City’s YourChannel for idea sharing, the opportunity to learn about the impacts of a municipal budget, and to view the timeline for various budget deliberations.

In addition to the online engagement, two public meetings are scheduled for Monday, December 6 (tax-supported and capital budgets), and Wednesday, December 8 (water and wastewater operating and capital), both at 5 p.m. Should you wish to speak at these meetings, contact the City Clerk, Tara Stephens, at clerk@welland.ca no later than noon on Friday, December 3, to be provided with a link to participate. Should anyone wish only to view the meeting, all Budget Review Committee meetings are live-streamed on the City of Welland’s website: www.welland.ca/Council/Livestream.asp.

Financial impacts from COVID-19 continue to impact municipal budgets. However, the City’s healthy financial position drives the net-zero base increase mandate. Despite the pandemic’s disruption to daily life, the City has provided residents a high level of service and continues to do so.