News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

At its next budget meeting on January 31, Council will discuss the legislative budget, the preliminary 2012 operating and capital budgets, the preliminary Financial Plan. The meeting begins at 6:00pm in City Council Chambers.

The January 31 Budget Package is available online here.

The public is welcome to that meeting, as well as the next scheduled meeting on February 14, when surplus, reserves, and tax rates will be discussed.

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“This is an improvement on our usual budget process,” says Cook. “Now, in addition to receiving a budget information package and coming to the public consultation meeting, residents can watch us at the table as we work to address both challenges and opportunities in our budget and long-term financial planning.”

The dates of future meetings will be announced as soon as they are set. Budget information packages are expected be available on the City’s web site on the Fridays prior to the meetings. A formal public consultation meeting on the 2012 budget and five-year financial plan will be held in March.

At its first 2012 budget meeting on January 18, Williams Lake City Council agreed to maintain the same direction to staff in the preparation of the budget that was provided in October. Council received an overview of the budget process and timeline, property assessments, tax distribution and rates, reserves, and debt management.

Council agreed to maintain the same four priorities for the 2012 budget and five-year financial plan:

1) Adjust tax distribution between BC   Assessment Authority classifications –Research other methods of taxation distribution between classes that will bring current tax rates more in alignment with provincial municipal taxation rate averages

2) Develop capital infrastructure plan – Review capital infrastructure needs and develop long term plan for financing future capital projects including continuation of a pavement management plan

3) Pursue most efficient and cost saving measures in delivery of municipal services– Continue to review departmental services and implement procedures and processes to reach maximum efficiency and effectiveness of services.

4) Tax Rate Scenarios – Provide tax rate increase options between 2 – 3% throughout the 5-year Financial Plan.

“In addition to those priorities, Council expressed the need for long-term planning, which includes reducing spending,” Mayor Kerry Cook says. “Staff have already been directed to reduce operational spending, and the operations budgets have been reduced 3% from last year.”

Under the Community Charter, the City’s financial plan and property tax rates must be adopted by May 15th of each year.

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