City of Penticton welcomes taxpayer input into 2015 budget

PENTICTON – The City of Penticton is inviting residents, businesses and stakeholders in the city to take part in assembling the 2015  budget.

The initial budget schedule begins with capital budget discussions on Monday, December 8 at 8:30 a.m.

Budget talks continue Wednesday,  December 10 at 8:30 a.m., and again on Tuesday, December 16 at 8:30 a.m. Discussions surrounding grants and deliberations take place on Wednesday, December 17 at 9 a.m.

Annual budget discussions cover several days and involve a multitude of spending decisions in both operating and capital budgets.

“Citizens are welcome to be part of the process,” said Mayor Jakubeit.

Time will be set aside each day for public input and feedback, allowing citizens and stakeholders an opportunity to ask questions, provide comment and give suggestions related to the day’s discussions.

The city faces $1.3 million in additional cost pressures next year due to increases and investments. The deficit has been reduced by 53 per cent over last year, to $315,000. Through in-house efforts, the city has also been able to reduce the net deficit by $833,000. 

Budget meetings will be streamed live on the City of Penticton’s website: www.penticton.ca/live-video

City staff will also be monitoring Twitter on the @cityofpenticton account.

Citizens can also use hashtag#penbudget15 to give City comments, suggestions and questions.

All meetings are scheduled to take place in council chambers in city hall.

Visit: www.penticton.ca/budget to download budget presentations.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.