Whitby has launched community engagement to help build the town’s 2023 budget. Residents invited to have their say until July 22.
What town services are most important to you? Which would you prioritize if you were building Whitby’s 2023 budget? These are questions the town is asking residents and local businesses to answer as it launches community engagement.
Each year, the town undergoes an extensive budget planning process to prepare the annual municipal budget. Community engagement is an important part of this process, providing residents with multiple opportunities to share their budget priorities and inform each budget milestone, said a statement.
Between now and July 22, residents and local businesses can share their priorities at connectwhitby.ca/budget. Through the site, residents can access the Town’s Citizen Budget Tool – a virtual budget simulator that shows the financial impacts of participants’ choices in real time.
The launch of connectwhitby.ca/budget and the Citizen Budget Tool are part of the first phase of the town’s budget engagement process.
“Community engagement is an important part of our annual budget planning process – listening and learning about the programs and services that matter most to those who work in and call our town home. We want to hear from as many people as possible to ensure we are prioritizing investments in areas that are important to them,” said Matt Gaskell, Chief Administrative Officer.
Quick Facts
- Last year, nearly 2,000 people engaged in the budget process, including the Town’s Citizen Budget Tool. Top budget priorities identified by participants through the Tool included more attracting more local jobs, continuing the revitalization of the downtowns, and creating more green spaces.
- Key dates in the development of the 2023 Budget include: the release of the proposed 2023 Budget in January 2023 and the Budget Public Meeting and Final Approval of the Budget in February 2023.