Drop-in meetings and community survey for the 2024 Budget

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Sun through trees in Beavermead Park

Peterborough, ON - Join the conversation on the creation of the City of Peterborough’s 2024 Budget by participating in an upcoming drop-in meeting to speak with City Council members and City staff or through a community survey.

The survey is available online at connectptbo.ca/2024budget or paper copies can be picked up at City Hall, 500 George St. N. The survey is open until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 21, 2023.

The drop-in meetings provide an informal opportunity for residents to share their ideas for the 2023 Budget with Council members, City staff, and other residents. The drop-in meetings are in addition to the regular, official Council meetings through the budget process that include opportunities for individuals to present as formal delegations to Council.

There will be two drop-in meetings at the beginning of the budget process as Council considers setting the guidelines for the drafting of the 2024 Budget. Residents from any of the City’s five wards are welcome to attend the drop-in meetings. This year, the City is also adding two drop-in style meetings later in the budget process after the Draft 2024 Budget is released to the public to encourage more conversations about the details in the draft budget.

The City consults with the community throughout the budget process – at the beginning when setting the guidelines for the drafting of the budget, when the draft budget is released, and before Council considers approving the budget.

A report on the proposed guidelines for drafting the 2024 Budget is expected to be considered by Council in June. The Draft 2024 Budget is scheduled to be posted for public review in November ahead of Council’s budget deliberations.

Information on the City budget is available at peterborough.ca/budget.

Budget community drop-in meetings

  • Thursday, April 13, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Training Room, Fire Station #3, 839 Clonsilla Ave.
  • Thursday, April 20, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., main foyer, City Hall, 500 George St. N.
  • Thursday, November 9, date and location to be determined
  • Tuesday, November 14, date and location to be determined

2024 Budget consultation key dates

  • Budget survey launches – March 27, 2023
  • Budget drop-in meeting – April 13, 2023
  • Budget drop-in meeting – April 20, 2023
  • Budget survey closes – April 21, 2023
  • Finance Committee considers Preliminary Guideline Report – May 23, 2023
  • Public meeting on Draft Budget Guideline – May 31, 2023
  • Finance Committee considers Final Guideline Report – June 26, 2023
  • Draft 2023 Budget released for public review – November 6, 2023
  • Budget drop-in meeting – November 9, 2023
  • Budget drop-in meeting – November 14, 2023
  • Finance Committee, public input meeting – November 14, 2023
  • Finance Committee, presentations by external agencies – November 15, 2023
  • Finance Committee budget review/deliberations – November 20-23, 2023
  • City Council considers approving 2024 Budget – December 11, 2023

Quotes

“The City’s annual budget reflects our community’s investments in municipal services and infrastructure each year. Municipal services are the foundation for activity and the quality of life in our community, from parks and trails, to sidewalks, cycling lanes and roads, to storm and sanitary sewers, to garbage collection and our new Green Bin program, to social housing and social services – all of these services and more are delivered through our local government and are reflected through the annual City budget.

“We know that the need for investments in services and infrastructure is always greater than our community’s ability to pay. Setting service level expectations and prioritizing our needs is part of the budget process. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and join one of the drop-in meetings to share your thoughts on how the City should use your property tax dollars,” said Councillor Andrew Beamer, Finance Committee Chair.


 

“The budget process is another opportunity to talk to residents about the services and infrastructure that they want to see in our community. We regularly hear from residents about roads, development, economic opportunities, housing, social services, climate change, and flood reduction. Through the budget, we’re able to set priorities and take action. Citizen input in the budget process helps Council set the direction for our City,” said Councillor Dave Haacke, Finance Committee Vice-Chair.