The City of Vernon is currently planning for the 2017 budget process and is encouraging residents to provide their input using an interactive online budgeting tool. The Vernon Citizen Budget will be open for public input from September 19 to October 14, and will incorporate an interactive slider that allows residents to provide valuable input on whether they would increase, decrease or maintain spending related to services and programs in Vernon.
“Every year, we invite Vernon residents to attend budget meetings to speak to our City’s financial plan,” said Mayor Akbal Mund. “While the feedback we’ve received from the public at these meetings has been helpful in guiding Council’s deliberations, we know we can do more. Our public engagement strategy is to reach as many residents as possible so that we can achieve a deep and broad understanding of the public’s desires—including how their tax dollars are managed. This process not only provides an avenue for Vernon residents to share their thoughts, it offers a higher level of transparency for the process.”
The survey offers a high-level view of the options that Council considers when deliberating on budget items. The interactive exercise is meant to be informative, interesting, accessible—and fun. Most residents will be able to complete the budget exercise in 5-10 minutes. Results from the Citizen Budget will be collected and shared with Council and Administration from the City, as well as with the public, and will help inform Council on how residents feel about City services.
In addition to the Citizen Budget, Vernon residents will have the opportunity to provide input on the draft budget at public meetings to be held in December.
Vernon’s Citizen Budget goes live on September 19 at www.vernon.ca/budget.