The Town of Okotoks is asking for John and Jane Q. Public's help in setting the 2021 budget.
An online survey has been established on the Town’s website to help council and administration in setting its 2021 budget. Town council has set a guideline of a zero-per-cent increase for 2021.
Phase 1 of the survey deals with the impact of COVID-19 on residents and what that means for the types of Town services the community will need in 2021.
“We want to get a sense as to how much COVID-19 impacted you, either as an individual or as a business.’’ said Okotoks CAO Elaine Vincent. “And because of that impact are there things you want to say to the municipality? Do you need more? Do you need less or should it be the same?”
She said a zero per cent increase will mean the Town will have to cut some services or find new revenue.
“We know that increasing revenue in the time of COVID-19 is likely not a viable option,” Vincent said. “What we want to know from residents is, if you were given the choice of keeping all the services or do you want to get rid of some of the services because you don’t need that during COVID-19.”
Phase 1 of the survey, which started on Sept. 8, runs until Sept. 23.
The survey results will be presented to council at its Sept. 28 meeting, and will be of public record.
“Then you will see council take that information and see if they want to revise their budget guidelines,” Vincent said.
Phase 2, which will go online in October, will ask for public input on more specific adjustment to services to achieve a zero per increase.
She said services such as the fire department, sewage, and policing items are expected from the municipality and are a given in the budget.
She said the loss of some services in the recreation department was an example of items the community has been concerned about during COVID-19.
“With the closure of the facilities, the loss of revenue, trying to maintain a zero per cent tax increase, we needed to make adjustments in terms of staffing those facilities,” Vincent said. “Now we are starting to see those impacts in the community — and the community isn’t entirely satisfied with that.
“If that is of critical importance to you, is there a service you think we shouldn’t be providing and what would that be.”
“That is what we will get to in Phase 2."
Residents will be asked in the second phase what are their priorities in services for the community and themselves.
“Maybe we will even ask them to rank the services of A, B, and C — what could they live without for a year in order for us to keep it at that zero per cent,” Vincent said.
Town council revised its 2020 budget for a zero per cent increase at its April 27 meeting to assist residents who may be struggling during COVID-19.
The Town has done public surveys regarding its annual budget for the past three years.
For updated information, follow our COVID-19 special section for the latest local and national news on the coronavirus pandemic, as well as resources, FAQs and more.
