The city held a budget consultation last week for downtown residents but nobody came – almost nobody.
A sparse crowd of 20 attended the meeting at city hall in which residents were supposed to provide feedback to Mayor Jim Watson and assorted city councillors, including Somerset Wards’s Diane Holmes, about the proposed 2013 budget.
The meeting was scheduled for two hours, but lasted an hour. It was one of a series of city-wide meetings for residents to give their input on what Watson calls a “stay-the-course” budget. Those who did not attend but still have concerns or comments have until the end of the month.
The few questions and comments ranged from such issues as transit services, the city’s debt and funding for local museums.
Marian Similuk, the city’s treasurer, outlined the budget’s main features, such as the 2.09-per-cent property tax increase. Similuk noted that while some costs will rise, including transit fees, recreation fees will not.
There was even a question from Twitter. An Ottawa resident tweeted Coun. Maria McRae asking if funds geared towards road widening could be better spent on expanding O-Train services.
Coun. Diane Deans, chairperson of the city’s transit commission, said the city is expanding the O-Train. It’s shutting down the system next year for restructuring, getting new trains from Germany in 2014, doubling capacity and reducing service times.
Mike Maguire, a former mayoral candidate, expressed concern over the long-term implications of borrowing money to pay for expenditures in difficult economic times, fearing the city will continue to borrow and its debt will continue to grow unsustainably.
Currently, the city’s debt is at around $1.4 billion. According to Watson, it won’t rise this year.
Similuk said it’s important to be prudent about debt, but added that Ottawa is doing well compared with other large municipalities.
“Ottawa is not in a debt crisis,” Similuk said.
Robin Etherington, executive director of the Bytown Museum, commended city council for its continued support.
“The Bytown Museum is strong, thanks to you,” she said. “This year, we’re going to have over 50,000 visitors,” which is up from last year’s 45,000 visitors.
Etherington praised the city’s two-per-cent increase in operating funding for local museums, which she said will help with the Bytown’s 100-year anniversary celebrations in 2017.
Other residents at the meeting said the city’s new biweekly garbage pickup schedule is an inconvenience and asked council to consider more funds for road infrastructure renewal projects.
Committee scrutiny of the budget began this week and continues until Nov. 26. Anyone can attend these meetings, which will address specific areas of the budget and register to speak.
Residents can also tweet their comments using the #ottbudget hashtag or send an email to budget2013@ottawa.ca.
City council will vote on the budget on Nov. 28.