Process and Timetable
On September 14, City Council approved the process and timetable for developing and approving the 2012 budget. Council endorsed a budget strategy in June that sets the increase in the municipal portion of the tax bill to a maximum increase of 2.5 per cent per year.
The process and timetable for the 2012 budget is as follows:
September: Mayor’s Online Pre-budget Public Consultation
To engage the public before budget tabling, a special e-mail address has been created by the Mayor’s office, budget2012@ottawa.ca. Residents are encouraged to make their voices heard and to participate.
October 26: Tabling of 2012 Draft Budgets with Council
The 2012 draft operating and capital budget will be tabled with Council on its regularly scheduled meeting of October 26. All draft tax-supported budgets will be tabled, including budgets for services that report to either a Commission or Board, such as Police, Transit, Public Health and Library services. Draft budgets for the Committee of Adjustment and Crime Prevention Ottawa will also be tabled on that date.
November 1-4: Community Consultations
The City will host four bilingual multi-ward budget consultations. In addition to a central meeting to be held at City Hall, meetings will be held in East, West and South Ottawa. These meetings will be located in facilities that allow rural residents to attend with relative ease. If you are unsure about which consultation to attend, contact your Councillor’s office.
East
Tuesday, November 1
7 to 9 pm
Shenkman Arts Centre, Richcraft Theatre
245 Centrum Boulevard, Orléans
West
Wednesday, November 2
7:30 to 9:30 pm
Holy Trinity Catholic High School, Cafetorium
180 Katimavik Road, Kanata
South
Thursday, November 3
7:30 to 9:30 pm
Rideauview Community Centre, Gymnasium
4310 Shoreline Drive, Riverside South
**Central District
Friday, November 4
4 to 6 pm
City Hall, Andrew Haydon Hall
110 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa
**The session at City Hall on November 4 will include assistive listening devices, simultaneous translation (CART) in English and French and ASL sign language interpretation. . Please call the City’s Accessibility Coordinator at 613-580-2424 ext. 26892 if you require any disability related accommodations to participate in these sessions.
October 17-November 28: Committee/Commission/Board Budget Meetings
All Standing Committees of Council along with the Transit Commission, Police Services Board, Library Board and Board of Public Health will hold meetings to consider the 2012 draft budget for their respective areas and to listen to public delegations.
Standing Committees and Boards will meet to listen to public delegations, review budgets and recommend a budget to Council for consideration and adoption.
Committee/Commission/Board meeting dates:
Date |
Committee/Commission/Board |
|---|---|
October 17 |
Public Health |
November 7 |
Finance and Economic Development |
November 8 |
Planning |
November 10 |
Transportation |
November 14 |
Library |
November 15 |
Environment |
November 16 |
Transit Commission |
November 17 |
Community and Protective Services |
November 18 |
Agriculture and Rural Affairs |
November 21 |
IT |
November 28 |
Police Services |
You can make a five-minute presentation to the Standing Committees/Commissions/Boards on the 2012 draft budget. Registration in advance of the meeting is recommended and can be done by contacting the relevant Committee Coordinator. Presenters are also encouraged to provide a copy of their presentation electronically in advance of the meeting.
Special Council Meeting November 30: Council Consideration of Committee/Commission/Board Recommended 2012 Draft Budgets
A special meeting of Council will be held on November 30 for consideration and approval of the 2012 budget recommendations from all the Committees of Council and relevant Boards.
Rate-Supported Budget
The budget for services supported by the water/sewer rate will be considered after the tax-supported budget. This will allow for any adjustments made to the tax-supported portion of the integrated program (combined road/water/sewer capital works) to be reflected in the water/sewer rate budget. It is anticipated that the rate-supported budget will be tabled at a special Environment Committee meeting in January, 2012, with Committee receiving public delegations and undertaking the review in February, with Council consideration at its meeting of February 22, 2012. Specific dates will be announced by December.
Comments
To comment on Budget 2012, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401), e-mail 311@ottawa.ca or fax 613-560-2126.