Have your say on the proposed City budget

When it comes to discussions about the future of our city and the Calgary we want to build together, The City's budget is one of the most important discussions we can have as a community. And this time around, Mayor Nenshi and City Council are involving all Calgarians in that conversation from the very beginning. As Mayor Nenshi has said "we're turning the budget and planning process upside down and starting with you."

Last week, The City of Calgary administration released its proposed business plan and budget for 2012-2014 (you can download it here) to City Council, the media, and the public at the same time. For many people, the content of the budget is no surprise, because it is based on the thoughts and ideas of more than 23,000 Calgarians who engaged in the process earlier this year. 

But that doesn't mean the conversation stops here. Rather, now is when you can give your feedback to City Council about he proposed budget before they debate it next week. 

Here are your options to learn more about the proposed budget and share your feedback: 

(also available on the Our City. Our Budget. Our Future website) 

Review the proposed business plan and budget

While you can download the document directly, you can also look at a copy of the document at:

• The City Clerk's Office, Administration Building
• Any branch of the Calgary Public Library
• Any public drop-in session between November 15-19

Present to City Council

City Council budget deliberations will begin on Monday, November 21 at 9:30am in Council Chambers. Citizens will have two ways to submit their comments:

• A written submission sent online before November 20 at noon
• A five-minute presentation made to Council

If you opt to speak to Council, you will have a chance to speak on a first-come-first-speak basis starting on the morning of November 21. And if you bring materials for Council, please make 35 copies.

But completely new this year is that citizens can pre-book a presentation time by either going online to calgary.ca/ourfuture or calling 3-1-1. Proposed by Mayor Nenshi and supported by City Council, the new system lets citizens register to speak ahead of time instead of waiting to find out in what order they will speak on the day of budget deliberations. Deadline for advance registration is the end-of-day on November 16.

If you do not pre-book, you can still speak before budget deliberation, but you must be in the Council Chamber on November 21 to physically put your name on the speaking list. 

(If you have more questions about the meeting procedures, please visit this site or call the Legislative Assistance at the City Clerk's office at 403-268-5861.)

- Daorcey from Mayor Nenshi's team