Meaford is moving the location of its 2021 budget public engagement session to allow room for more people to attend.
It will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 28 at the Meaford Hall, as opposed to the traditional location of Woodford Hall.
Municipal staff advise the change is to increase capacity and provide adequate physical distancing to allow 50 attendees.
The municipality will accept questions prior to the budget engagement session on Oct. 28. Those received in advance of the meeting will be asked.
Friday is the final day for Meaford residents to provide direct feedback through an online budget survey.
The 2021 draft budget will be tabled at Meaford council’s meeting next week.
Council provided direction to Meaford staff at its Sept. 14 meeting to prepare a draft budget that includes no enhancements to services or staff unless required to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19.
A background report on the 2021 Meaford budget framework prepared by the municipality’s Director of Corporate Services and Treasurer Darcy Chapman explains the 2021-2024 estimated Operating Budget projections indicate a potential increase of 3.71% in the operating budget and a total 8.07% increase due to continual capital project pressures.
“Given this, any initial target under 8% may very well be unattainable,” Chapman’s report explains.
The direction given by council to staff in preparing a draft budget includes dedicated 1% tax levy increases for roads and bridge capital funding, and a 0.5% increase for facility capital funding.