City of Winnipeg Budget Consultation Blog

2012 Operating Budget Public Consultations

Mike Ruta, Chief Financial Officer, City of Winnipeg — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:01:21 +0000

The operating budget allocates funding for a full range of City services including police, fire paramedics, water treatment, garbage collection, libraries, community centres, as well as road construction and maintenance. A primary challenge for Council and the Public Service is to ensure that the City’s services meet the needs and priorities of its citizens. It is important that these services are delivered in a timely, effective and cost-efficient manner. During the operating budget process, numerous priorities must be considered. We would like to encourage flexibility and innovation while at the same time, protect the public interest, attract new investment, and foster public safety.

Public Consultation

Have your say in the preparation of the 2012 Operating Budget by participating in the Public Consultation on the Operating Budget. All City of Winnipeg residents, businesses, community groups and associations are invited to attend a public consultation on January 31.

Walk-ins welcome. No pre-registration required.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012
6 – 8 p.m.
Winnipeg Convention Centre
375 York Avenue – Main Floor, Room 5
Should you wish to pre-register, contact: budget@winnipeg.ca or (204) 986-4242.

Online Survey

Click here to share your views via the online survey.

2012 Capital Budget and Survey

Mike Ruta, Chief Financial Officer, City of Winnipeg — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:36:45 +0000

Maintaining and improving the City’s assets and infrastructure is essential in meeting the needs of Winnipeg citizens and attracting new investment and business to the City of Winnipeg.

Last year’s capital budget approved $370 million in new capital projects for 2011 and projected that the City’s investment in its capital assets and infrastructure for 2012 to 2016 would be over $1.8 billion.

The cost to raise the City’s infrastructure to an appropriate condition is estimated at $3.5 billion growing to $7.4 billion over the next ten years. Council has been exploring innovative solutions to address this deficit, such as increasing pay-as-you-go in the capital plan and pursuing strategic partnerships. As we plan for the future, we would like your opinion on how we should spend our capital budget dollars and how to move forward to address the infrastructure deficit over the next several years.

Public Consultation

Have your say in the preparation of the 2012 Capital Budget by participating in the Public Consultation on the Capital Budget. All City of Winnipeg residents, businesses, community groups and associations are invited to attend the public consultation on November 1, 2011.

Walk-ins welcome. No pre-registration required.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Winnipeg Convention Centre
375 York Avenue
Room 2F (second floor)

Should you wish to pre-register, contact: budget@winnipeg.ca or (204) 986-4242.

Online Survey

“Survey is closed”

2011 Capital Budget Consultation Summary

Mike Ruta, Chief Financial Officer, City of Winnipeg — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 19:31:21 +0000

The City of Winnipeg’s 2011 Capital Budget allocates funding toward maintaining and improving the City’s assets and infrastructure such as regional streets, sidewalks, bridges, rapid transit, libraries, water treatment plants and recreation and leisure facilities.

Winnipeg residents, businesses, community groups and associations were invited to two consultation sessions held on December 6 and December 9, 2010. These sessions were hosted by Councillor Scott Fielding, Chair of the City Council’s Standing Policy Committee on Finance, and supported by Michael Ruta, the City’s Acting Chief Administrative Officer.

The public consultation sessions and the online 2011 Capital Budget Public Consultation Survey allowed Winnipeggers the opportunity to provide their input into the 2011 Capital Budget. This input from the public consultations assisted us in finalizing the capital budget. Input and ideas from the public are invited, however, they are among a number of factors that are taken into consideration during the budgetary process including discussions between elected officials.

The City received 63 online surveys (partially or fully completed) and 8 hard copy surveys from individuals. The survey can be found at 2011 Capital Budget Survey with Responses – Feb 17, 2011. Notes were also taken at the Pre-Budget Consultation Sessions on December 6 and 9, 2010 and a summary of the discussion can be found at 2011 Capital Budget Public Consultation discussion.

Noted in the online 2011 Preliminary Capital Budget document found on the City’s website are:

Concerns about roadways and sidewalks were identified as priorities. The budget this year addresses these areas on pages 27, 28, 45, 50, 51, and 53 to 76.
Transportation and transit were also noted in the feedback. Pages 26, 29, 52, and 172 to 174 address these common themes.
Suggestions and comments about active transportation and recreation facilities were also common. Pages 27, 44, 46-47, 83 to 85, 99, 105, 106, 146 and 153 of the budget deal with these important issues.
Some individuals commented on neighbourhood revitalization and pages 33, 81, 94, and 136 address this.

Many people provided suggestions and comments about taxes and City revenues. Your comments are noted and will serve as a basis for future budget considerations.

Thank you for being a part of the 2011 Capital Budget process.