You won’t be able to offer Thunder Bay city council your thoughts on the 2020 budget once it’s been passed.
Councillor Rebecca Johnson is in favour of the post-budget public comment session.
“We want to have the community speak, and so to me, if we’re going to go backwards again, I don’t think it’s a very good idea.”
The At-large councillor adds public input has been taken away before, only to be reinstated, again and again.
Another At-large councillor, Trevor Giertuga, argued there’s never been a suggestion used to change the budget.
“But we may have utilized some of the information from the pre-budget consultations, in our decisions, but never once have we made a change.”
Current River’s city councillor feels the budget is the most document they work on, and that’s why public consultation after the budget is written must remain.
Andrew Foulds argued saying not only does public input have merit, but you also need to see where the money is spent.
“Not only for us but for the public, they do need some time to digest those numbers. I don’t think we’re rushing it, and contrary to a commentary, ‘Let’s get ‘er done,’ well, no, we need to get ‘er done well.”
Council voted to end allowing taxpayers input, with some saying there are pre-budget discussions.
