The current public engagement process doesn't attract enough people to accurately reflect our priorities
As the City of Prince George moves forward with its proposed 2025 operating budget, which includes a 6.55 per cent property tax increase, we have to talk about how the city engages its residents in the budget planning process.
This increase, following a 6.78 per cent hike in 2024, is part of a broader trend of rising taxes over the last few years. Property taxes went up by 18.32 per cent between 2021 and 2024. This hefty a financial impact on residents makes it crucial that the city take more meaningful steps to involve the public in budget decisions
One of the main reasons for the lack of engagement is that the current model tends to attract a very specific group of people. The individuals who typically participate in these surveys or attend open houses are often those with a niche interest in certain aspects of city spending or policy wonks who enjoy diving deep into the numbers.
There was also talk of combining budget discussions with more enjoyable community events, such as Winterfest or a Cougars game, which could help attract more people who might not typically engage with municipal budget discussions. The city’s 2025 budget is already taking shape, with several key proposals on the table, including increased spending for snow control, road rehabilitation and the hiring of new staff to support critical city services.
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