REQUEST FOR DECISION
DATE: October 9, 2020 Report No. FIN-20-019
TO: Laurie Hurst, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Ian Irvine, Director of Financial Services
SUBJECT:
Title
2021-2025 Financial Plan and Budget Schedule
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That Council approve the 2021-2025 Financial Plan and Budget Schedule as attached to Staff Report No. FIN-20-019.
Body
RELEVANT POLICY:
Community Charter S166
STRATEGIC RELEVANCE:
This request does not relate to any specific strategic objective or priority.
BACKGROUND:
The schedule clearly indicates those events which directly involve Council. These events, including presentations by staff and external organizations and the various Council discussions, are denoted with asterisks (**) and have been clearly labelled with a reference to “Council” or “Special Council”.
The Community Charter requires municipalities to undertake a process of public consultation before adopting the annual Financial Plan. While the public is encouraged to provide their input at any time, the schedule includes four dedicated public input opportunities within the formal budget process. These opportunities correlate with significant process milestones including: (1) discussion around budget challenges when Council will communicate their desired level of 2021 tax revenue increases; (2) departmental presentations when senior management will highlight their prior year achievements and discuss their short and long term objectives and challenges; (3) consideration of the supplemental operating and capital requests recommended by senior management; and (4) discussion of tax revenue increase scenarios.
ISSUES:
1. Rationale for Selected Option
The annual Financial Plan and Budget Schedule outlines the timing and identifies who is responsible for the completion of various process deliverables. The 2021 schedule has been prepared similarly to those in previous years and every attempt has been made to correlate the dates with the established Council meeting schedule.
Approval of the 2021 schedule would allow staff to adequately prepare for the various meetings, discussions and presentations prior to the adoption of the Financial Plan and Tax Rate Bylaws by the May 15 deadline. This approval would also allow staff to coordinate presentations by the Library Board and the Victoria and Esquimalt Police Board. As well, it would allow for the dates of the four dedicated public input opportunities to be confirmed and communicated.
2. Organizational Implications
There are no organizational implications of this decision.
3. Financial Implications
There are no financial implications of this decision.
4. Sustainability & Environmental Implications
There are no sustainability or environmental implications of this decision.
5. Communication & Engagement
Once approved, items related to future budget discussions, presentations and public input opportunities will be added to the agenda for each Council meeting noted on the schedule. As well, the key public input opportunities will be communicated on the Township notice board, website, through social media and in the Township newsletter.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. That Council approve the 2021-2025 Financial Plan and Budget Schedule as attached to Staff Report No. FIN-20-019.
2. That Council amend and approve the 2021-2025 Financial Plan and Budget Schedule as amended.