Report to: General Committee Report Date: September 14, 2009

SUBJECT: Proposed 2010 Budget Schedule

PREPARED BY: Joel Lustig, Director, Financial and Client Services

Andrea Tang, Manager of Financial Planning

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the report dated September 14, 2009 entitled “Proposed 2010 Budget Schedule” be received;

AND THAT the Operating Budgets for Planning & Design, Engineering and Building Services be reviewed at the October 13^th Development Services Committee meeting;

AND THAT the Waterworks Operating Budget be reviewed at the October 19^th General Committee meeting;

AND THAT the Budget Sub-Committee meetings scheduled for the dates and times below be approved:

Meeting #1 – Monday, October 19^th (1 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Canada Room)

Meeting #2 – Tuesday, October 20^th (1 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Canada Room)

Meeting #3 – Wednesday, October 21^st (9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. – Canada Room)

Meeting #4 (if required) – Friday, October 23^rd (9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. – Council Chambers)

AND THAT the Draft Public Meeting Presentation be presented at the October 26^th General Committee meeting;

AND THAT a public meeting be held on November 4^th to receive public feedback on the 2010 Budget;

AND THAT Councillor requests be forwarded to Andrea Tang by September 25^th for consideration in the 2010 Budget;

AND That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

1. Purpose 2. Background 3. Discussion 4. Financial 5. Others (Strategic, Affected Units) 6. Attachment(s)

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to obtain approval for the 2010 Budget meeting dates.

BACKGROUND:

There were eight Budget Sub-Committee meetings from October 2008 to January 2009 followed by a public meeting held on February 4^th 2009. A final Budget Sub-Committee was held on February 9^th, 2009 to review the feedback from the public meeting. The 2009 Operating, Capital, Waterworks and Building Services Budgets were approved by Council on February 10^th, 2009

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

The proposed 2010 budget process includes 3 Budget Sub-Committee meetings (a fourth if required) with one public input session scheduled for November 4^th, 2009. It is anticipated that the 2010 budget will be approved at the November 10^th Council meeting.

Seeking an early budget approval is advantageous to the Town as it allows for the best bidding opportunities and pricing advantages when tenders are placed in the market in late 2009 or early 2010.

It also helps to spread the heavy workload associated with implementing the items included in the budget over a longer period of time, thereby achieving a more efficient use of staff resources. Similarly, approval of the budget allows staff to run programs and deliver services to the community with certainty as to duration and service level.

The following are proposed meeting dates to review, discuss and approve the 2010 budget:

Development Services Committee – October 13^th

– Planning & Design, Engineering and Building Services Operating Budgets

General Committee – October 19^th

– Waterworks Operating Budget

Budget Sub-Committee

Meeting #1 – Monday, October 19^th (1 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Canada Room)

– Operating Budget and Capital Budget (upon completion of Operating Budget)

Meeting #2 – Tuesday, October 20^th (1 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Canada Room)

– Capital Budget

Meeting #3 – Wednesday, October 21^st (9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. – Canada Room)

– Wrap-up

Meeting #4 (if required) – Friday, October 23^rd (9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. – Council Chambers)

General Committee – October 26^th

– Draft Public Meeting Presentation

Public Meeting – November 4th

– Feedback from the public prior to Council approval of the 2010 Budget

General Committee – November 9th

– Review feedback from the public prior to Council approval of the 2010 Budget

Council – November 10th

– Council approval of the 2010 Budget

As in the previous years, preliminary capital budget binders will be distributed to all Councillors in advance of the first Budget Sub-Committee meeting for review and discussion at future Budget Sub-Committee meetings. For the 2010 Capital Budget, binders will be distributed in the week of October 13^th, 2009.

Councillor requests should be forwarded to Andrea Tang by September 25^th for consideration in the 2010 Budget. All requests will be summarized and distributed to the respective departments for comments (if required) and addressed at the Budget Sub-Committee Meetings.

RECOMMENDED

BY: ________________________ ________________________

Barb Cribbett, Andy Taylor, Commissioner,

Treasurer Corporate Services