It’s a huge step in the right direction for the city.
That’s how Councillor David Merrithew sees the draft operating budget policy passed by the finance committee this week.
It provides guidelines to council and staff to help strengthen financial sustainability and reduce financial vulnerability.
“If somebody wants something outside our priorities or budget, they’ve got to amend this policy, much harder to do,” says Merrithew, who also chairs the finance committee. “Can’t say that it can’t be done, but much harder to do, and more transparency in doing it.”
One of the guidelines is only using one-time revenue, like a spike in building permit revenue, to fund one-time services and not ongoing services and programs, which is common sense to Merrithew.
“If you, in your job got a one-time bonus of X, you wouldn’t go and buy a car on it and have 60 more payment of that same amount of bonus,” he says. “You wouldn’t do it, nor should we.”
The policy also says the cost of activities supported by user fees should be reviewed every year to identify the impact of inflation and other cost increases. The document could be passed by Common Council as early as next week.