What’s happening?
The City of New Westminster is hosting a Budget 101 session to help explain the city’s finances to New West residents, property owners and business operators. The online session will run from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Zoom.
What’s being covered in the webinar?
The webinar aims to help folks learn about the basics of the city’s budget process and why input is important. Some of the questions being addressed include: What is the city budget and how does it apply to residents? How is the budget developed? Where does the city’s money come from? What’s the connection between the budget and property taxes?
Anything else?
The city will also be sharing some information about how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted city finances, work plans and how it may influence the 2021 budget.
What is the format for the Budget 101?
The online session features a presentation by Lorraine Lyle, the city’s acting director of finance, and chief administrative officer Lisa Spitale, followed by a Q&A with participants. Using the Zoom platform, Lyle said participants will be able to type their questions and “upvote” others’ questions – the ones they would most like staff to answer.
What stage is the city at with its 2021 budget?
“The Budget 101 webinar is the kick-off to the city’s 2021 budget process,” Lyle said. “Following the webinar, we will be launching an online survey for community members to share what they see as the top issues in New Westminster, and their top priorities for city services and initiatives.”
Following the survey, city departments will start developing their draft capital and operating budgets for 2021.
Is there a message you’d like to get out to folks at this time?
“We encourage residents, business operators and property owners to participate in the Sept. 17 webinar, learn more about the city’s budget process, and provide their input through the upcoming survey,” Lyle said.
Sign me up:
To register for the webinar, go to newwestbudget101.eventbrite.ca.
