By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Cobourg Treasurer Adam Giddings has set a goal of having the 2025 budget set by December.
Towards that end, he presented a timetable at a special meeting of council Wednesday, with Phase One now in effect and running through Sept. 6. This is council’s opportunity to provide input on current programs for which residents would like to see additional funding or staff attention. This information will help staff prepare a draft budget to present to council in October.
Community engagement will be provided through an EngageCobourg.ca survey, community delegations to council and a schedule of Council Budget Information Sessions, where members of the public can attend in person or through phone or Zoom, with different members of council chairing the meetings.
Aug. 6, 1 to 3 p.m. (Mayor Lucas Cleveland)
Aug. 12, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Deputy Mayor Nicole Beatty)
Aug. 13, 1 to 3 p.m. (Cleveland)
Aug. 14, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Councillor Aaron Burchat)
Aug 19, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Councillor Miriam Mutton)
Aug. 26, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Councillor Brian Darling)
Aug. 29, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Councillor Adam Bureau)
Sept. 3, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Councillor Randy Barber)
In Phase Two (Oct. 29 to Nov. 12), feedback will be sought on October’s draft budget through an EngageCobourg.ca survey, community delegations to council and social-media community education and budget promotion.
Cleveland hopes to nudge the discussion in a new direction – setting priorities. Too often, feedback from residents reads like a wish list, he said. He would like to see discussion on this-or-that basis, where priorities are set and people identify what is most important to them.
