It’s that wonderful time of the year, in which the City of Estevan has released its budget for 2017, and is seeking the public’s input on the vital document.
Readers of this publication know that we implore people on an annual basis to send their thoughts to the city about the budget document. Our preference would be that people appear before council at the budget meeting on Jan. 30 to offer their thoughts on the document.
But even if they Email their opinions to council, or call city hall to offer their opinions, it’s an encouraging sign. Just keep those thoughts in good taste.
Feedback has been sparse the last couple years. Two years ago, a few people sent letters to the city. Last year the Estevan Chamber of Commerce was there to offer their opinions.
People often complain when they find out there is a property tax increase coming, and yet when they’re given an opportunity to articulate their concerns in the most legitimate public setting, they’re nowhere to be found.
We hope that the people who are upset about the three per cent municipal property tax increase, or the five per cent increase over water consumption rates, will share those concerns with council, rather than leaving the complaints for the workplace water cooler or coffee row.
And if they want to share their opposition, then hopefully they have some solutions as well. It adds legitimacy to their argument if they have an idea for how the city can make up for the $441,000 that the property tax increase would generate.
There are other issues in the budget as well. King Street will finally be resurfaced from Souris Avenue North to Arthur Avenue. And King will be widened to four lanes between Bannatyne Avenue and Pine Avenue, ending one of the city’s most ridiculous traffic flow problems.
The budget also calls for money for the Civic Auditorium, which means the 60-year-old barn will likely be with us for a few more years.
Council’s decision to seek more public feedback on the budget has been an encouraging development in the last few years, just like their willingness to seek input on other fronts has been a step forward.
It was good to see council hold a couple public meetings last year to discuss the business licence bylaw. And it was a positive development when so many people stepped forward to share their thoughts.
Hopefully, the budget will generate a similar number of responses as the business bylaw debates or the speed limit discussions. After all, you would hope people would be as concerned about their property taxes or the condition of King Street, as the speed limit on Wellock Road or Fourth Street.
When the community is engaged and elected officials are held accountable, it only adds to the health of the community.
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