|
2
Submitted Ideas on
1 page
|
Create a Community Budget Oversight Committee
|
Form a citizen-led budget oversight committee comprised of residents from diverse economic backgrounds, including those earning under $57,600 annually. This committee would:
• Review all proposed municipal expenditures over $50,000 before council votes
• Conduct quarterly public meetings to present findings in plain language
• Prioritize spending based on community needs surveys conducted door-to-door in different neighborhoods
• Have the authority to request detailed cost-benefit analyses for high-cost projects like the Art Gallery expansion
• Publish an annual “Community Priorities vs. Actual Spending” report showing how tax dollars align with resident needs
This addresses the transparency issues while ensuring spending decisions reflect the reality that over half of residents are financially struggling.
|
|
Marie Oldham
|
|
|
Implement a “Community First” Spending Hierarchy
|
Resident Proposal: Establish a mandatory spending hierarchy that council must follow when allocating funds:
1. Essential Services: Public safety, basic infrastructure maintenance, public health
2. Community Support: Services for vulnerable populations (portable washrooms, mental health supports, affordable housing initiatives)
3. Economic Development: Programs that create jobs accessible to residents earning less than median income
4. Quality of Life: Parks, recreation, community programs
5. Enhancement Projects: Arts, cultural facilities, beautification (only after tiers 1-4 are adequately funded)
Before approving any tier 5 spending, council would be required to demonstrate that all preceding tiers are adequately funded and to hold a mandatory public consultation with at least 30 days notice. This ensures basic needs are met before pursuing projects that benefit fewer residents, directly addressing the disconnect between the $25 million art gallery expansion and the lack of basic services for the unhoused.
|
|
Ross Johns
|
|
Page 1 of 1
|
|