Residents were given an early access to Delta's 2025 budget process this week as the city launched a new, expanded public engagement program.
Beginning Wednesday (Sept.11), the city began soliciting feedback on its goals and priorities, and its progress made to date, via a survey online at letstalkdelta.ca/2025-budget, with paper copies available at City Hall in Ladner. This first phase of the budget process will close on Saturday, Sept. 28.
“Residents have asked for greater participation in the budget process and council has made this a priority,” Mayor George Harvie said in a press release.
“Starting early and offering more ways to participate is intended to make it easier for residents to get involved and provides staff and council more time to thoughtfully consider the needs of our community as we plan for the year ahead. We hope residents will take advantage of the opportunities available.”
To encourage participation, everyone who completes the feedback form and provides their email and phone number will be entered into a draw to win one of five $100 gift cards.
Input gathered through the survey will be provided to city staff and used to help shape the draft financial plan and proposed municipal tax increase, which will be shared with city council and the public on Oct. 21.
SEE ALSO: City giving free trees to 250 Delta residents
In phase two of the 2025 budget engagement program, which runs Oct. 22 to Nov. 3, residents will have the opportunity to review the draft financial plan, complete an online feedback form and discuss it with city staff at three planned engagement events.
In-person open houses are planned for Thursday, Oct. 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. at North Delta Centre for the Arts, and Saturday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to noon at South Delta Recreation Centre.
As well, an online information session on Monday, Oct. 28 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. via Zoom will includes a presentation by city staff followed by a question-and-answer period. Those wishing to attend the online session must register at zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TaeQmlAmRia9p-5ologxgQ#/registration.
Feedback collected during these events will be summarized and presented to Delta council at the first of three council budget workshops, planned for Nov. 13, 14 and 20 — workshops which this year, for the first time, will be open to the public in the council chamber at City Hall.
More information about the workshops will be available on the city's website in early November.
The expanded engagement and open budget workshops come at the direction of council, who unanimously endorsed a motion by Coun. Dylan Kruger on June 3 that sought to increase transparency and enhance the public's understanding of — and participation in — the budget process starting this fall.
But work on next year's budget began back in May when the city's various departments were given the 2025 financial plan guidelines.
The departments then submitted their individual financial plans in July, and a detailed review of those submissions and requests is currently underway. It is expected to be complete in October.
Following council's November budget workshops, readings and adoption of the 2025 utility rates and five-year financial plan bylaws are planned for Dec. 2 and 9, as the city aims to have the budget approved before the end of 2024 to align with its fiscal year (January-December) and "maximize the time available for project delivery," according to a staff report to council.
Readings for the annual tax rate bylaw will be held in April of next year, with adoption in May.
SEE ALSO: Surrey's proposed change to streamside protection policy slammed
SEE ALSO: Huge increase in demand for North Delta Rotary's Starfish Packs
