20131017_ca_halifax

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Thursday, October 17, 2013

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HALIFAX

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Crunch the numbers City budget. New budget-allocator tool allows public to have say ALY THOMSON

halifax@metronews.ca

AMBER, AUBURN, UMBER EMBRACE

A cyclist heads into Halifax via the Chain of Lakes trail through a blanket of fall foliage on Wednesday. The colours of fall are alive and well throughout the municipality, making for some picture-perfect moments like this. JEFF HARPER/METRO

So you think you can do a better job of balancing the budget than those at city hall? You may have a chance. The municipality is turning to the public for input on how it spends money. The audit and finance committee approved an online budget allocator tool Wednesday that will allow citizens to raise or cut taxes and services while working towards a balanced budget. “It will give them a chance to see the impact their ideas might have on the final budget,” said Mayor Mike Savage. Savage said a report will be produced based on the data collected and councillors will examine it as part of their budget considerations. “It’s sharing with people

what actually goes into making a budget and getting their point of view as to how we should do it,” said Savage. “I’m a big believer that the more information you give the public, the better off you are. It’s their information, after all.” The tool is part of a new prebudget approach that includes consultations at community council and presentations from departments at audit and finance committee meetings, said Savage. “The online piece is pretty cool,” he said, adding that consultations will begin in NovemQuoted

“I’m a big believer that the more information you give the public, the better off you are.” Mayor Mike Savage ber and the tool could be online around that time. “Our folks have been working really hard on it.” Savage said the proposal will likely go before council sometime in the next few weeks.


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