Back to SearchUPDATE: With no registered participants the Oct. 25 virtual budget open house has been cancelled. The Oct. 27 open house will continue as planned.
The City of St. Catharines is introducing new ways, alongside established methods, for the public to learn more about and provide input on the 2022 budget.
Specifically, the City is preparing to host two online open houses, providing taxpayers the opportunity to ask questions of Budget Standing Committee (BSC) Chair Coun. Mat Siscoe, and BSC Vice-chair Coun. Lori Littleton.
“The City budget impacts everything we do, from service delivery to new infrastructure, so it is critical our residents have a stake in the process. We want to provide every opportunity for not only their input, but also to increase their understanding of the process so they can be better engaged,” said City Treasurer Kristine Douglas.
The first online open house will have City Councillors from the north side of the city — Wards 3, 5 and 6 — in attendance and will take place at 7 p.m. on Oct. 25. The second, with City Councillors representing the south of the city, will take place at 7 p.m. on Oct. 27. Both will be held via Zoom and livestreamed on YouTube.
Those wishing to attend and ask questions can participate via telephone or Zoom. Participants must register by Oct. 22 at noon. Information on how to register, including an online form for Zoom registration, can be found at stcatharines.ca/BudgetTalk.
In addition to the online open houses the City will, as in years past, host a Telephone Town Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. Telephone Town Hall provides residents an opportunity to give feedback and learn more about the budget, all from the comfort of their home. In a style similar to a radio call-in show the City will randomly call 30,000 households and ask residents if they want to participate.
Residents can request to be called or place their phone number on the do-not-call list, via an online form at stcatharines.ca/BudgetTalk.
Those who prefer to engage via their keyboard can continue to use the Q&A feature on the City’s budget engagement page at engageSTC.ca/budget. Individuals can provide written feedback and questions. Staff will reply via the portal to answer questions submitted.
Draft copies of the 2022 Capital and Operating Budgets are posted for review on the engagement page and at stcatharines.ca/Budget.
Further official public meetings will be held at upcoming Council meetings ahead of budget approval.
Contact:
Subscribe