City looking for input on 2021 budget
The City of Oshawa is looking for input into the 2021 budget.
As the city begins preparing the budget, residents and property owners can share their priorities on key program and service areas during their ward-specific virtual Budget Open House.
“The 2021 budget will provide the foundation for the city to make decisions on its infrastructure, meet the service needs of the community and act as our key planning document for the year,” says Mayor Dan Carter, noting insight from residents and property owners on these matters is important.
“Your voice matters,” he says. “We hope you will join your ward councillors during your ward’s virtual Budget Open House to share your priorities.”
Each open house will begin at 6:30 p.m. with opening remarks from Carter and Councillor and Finance Committee Chair John Gray, followed by a brief overview and education session on the city budget, as well as an outline of the 2021 city budget process by finance services.
“Every year the city seeks input from residents about their budget priority and COVID-19 will not stop the process,” says Gray.
The meeting for Ward 2 will be on Tuesday, Sept. 15; the Ward 5 meeting will take place on Thursday, Sept. 17; the meeting for Ward 1 will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 22; and the Ward 3 open house will be held on Thursday, Sept. 24; and the ward 4 virtual open house will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 29.
Ward-specific access codes will only be active on the date of the scheduled ward open house. Access codes and passwords for each individual ward meeting can be found at www.oshawa.ca/budget.
Participants can join the virtual open house by visiting www.oshawa.webex.com on a desktop or laptop computer and entering the ward-specific access code and event password.
On the WebEx Meetings app on a mobile device, participants will select Join Meeting and enter the ward-specific access code. A password may be required.
Those choosing to access the meeting by desktop or laptop computer or the WebEx Meetings app will be able to submit their priorities and questions live through the WebEx Q&A tool.
Residents and property owners can also choose to listen in by calling the toll free number and entering the ward-specific access code followed by the pound sign, or by tuning in to Rogers TV Durham (Cable 10 and HD510).
Those calling in or watching on Rogers TV Durham must submit their questions in advance to Corporate Communications at communications@oshawa.ca, or by calling 905-436-3311 ext. 5686.