On tomorrow morning's meeting agenda, re the two Corporate and Finance reports CF-23-24 & CF-23-25 concerning the Oshawa 2024 recommended budget meeting timeline in November and the tools for public engagement:
It seems that formally beginning a fulsome public budget engagement process in the spring would be more meaningful and effective. (Peterborough begins its 2024 budget public survey early, in fact it is ongoing now. Whitby has its public feedback invitation on budget priorities on its website and Facebook page generally between May and July...in fact it reported that over 3,500 residents engaged on its connect.ca budget page for the 2023 budget between May and July.
Whitby also holds spring and fall budget meetings where the public is invited to attend both IN-PERSON and electronically to ask questions and make suggestions. Oshawa dropped those budget meetings where the public can make comments and ask questions in person even before COVID and instead holds a telephone engagement with the Mayor giving an intro, the Finance Commissioner giving an outline and then a telephone Q&A, which imo does not compare to LIVE engagement and there is the opportunity to do both.
To improve financial transparency and understanding, Oshawa Council could direct Finance and Communication departments to
1) involve Oshawans early in the 2024 budget process and
2) INFORM RESIDENTS with an easy-to-read format of the previous years approved BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS, as other municipalities have
3) especially including BUDGET INFOGRAPHICS and an on-line reader-friendly Budget Highlights publication, example from Whitby 2023 Budget Highlights here:
It seems that formally beginning a fulsome public budget engagement process in the spring would be more meaningful and effective. (Peterborough begins its 2024 budget public survey early, in fact it is ongoing now. Whitby has its public feedback invitation on budget priorities on its website and Facebook page generally between May and July...in fact it reported that over 3,500 residents engaged on its connect.ca budget page for the 2023 budget between May and July.
Whitby also holds spring and fall budget meetings where the public is invited to attend both IN-PERSON and electronically to ask questions and make suggestions. Oshawa dropped those budget meetings where the public can make comments and ask questions in person even before COVID and instead holds a telephone engagement with the Mayor giving an intro, the Finance Commissioner giving an outline and then a telephone Q&A, which imo does not compare to LIVE engagement and there is the opportunity to do both.
To improve financial transparency and understanding, Oshawa Council could direct Finance and Communication departments to
1) involve Oshawans early in the 2024 budget process and
2) INFORM RESIDENTS with an easy-to-read format of the previous years approved BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS, as other municipalities have
3) especially including BUDGET INFOGRAPHICS and an on-line reader-friendly Budget Highlights publication, example from Whitby 2023 Budget Highlights here: