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I saw issues with the budget. I fought to fix them. I built support with colleagues & Administration. Sometimes I felt like I was going it alone, other times I had broad agreement.
As a Councillor you can change things for the better if you put in the work.
Or you can complain.
As a Councillor you can change things for the better if you put in the work.
Or you can complain.
Example: in 2018 we deliberated on the 4yr budget. We were told this was the time to bring forward all the budget items for your Ward, see if you could get support to allocate money for them. This seemed clunky to me, but if this was the practice, ok. Let’s give it a try. But...
The next day, after new Councillors had done this, it was suggested we were trying to “jump the queue” or that what we were asking for was somehow not appropriate despite the fact that every Councillor had items. I wondered if these were legit concerns or gamesmanship. So...
I PULLED every item I had off the table.
Now, some in my Ward were concerned I had given up. But the truth is I saw how this approach was flawed. I felt that reducing the budget to some kind of Ward Wars or a game of Hungry Hungry Hippos was counterproductive.
And now...
Now, some in my Ward were concerned I had given up. But the truth is I saw how this approach was flawed. I felt that reducing the budget to some kind of Ward Wars or a game of Hungry Hungry Hippos was counterproductive.
And now...
Because I was no longer “in the mix” I could call it out.
It was very uncomfortable to be kicking at the pricks. No one likes to feel like they are being difficult. But I felt we needed the difficult conversation.
The first item that came up, I asked Admin:
It was very uncomfortable to be kicking at the pricks. No one likes to feel like they are being difficult. But I felt we needed the difficult conversation.
The first item that came up, I asked Admin:
“Isn’t this jumping the queue? If we had a prioritized list of needed capital budget projects, would this be at the top? Near the top?”
“This would not be a priority.”
To that Councillor’s credit they saw the situation immediately. They pulled the item. It was the beginning.
“This would not be a priority.”
To that Councillor’s credit they saw the situation immediately. They pulled the item. It was the beginning.
During that budget I am certain I was an absolute pain in the neck.
I challenged each item as it came up. I asked for justification.
Why?
Because I felt passionate about walking the talk on Priority Based Budgeting and doing things on a needs basis, not a wants basis.
#yeg...
I challenged each item as it came up. I asked for justification.
Why?
Because I felt passionate about walking the talk on Priority Based Budgeting and doing things on a needs basis, not a wants basis.
#yeg...
Our city is growing. Many of us lament the slow replacement of a small town to a Big City. But there are positives, too.
One of them is that I have seen the evolution in the way we approach budgets now.
We still fight for our Wards, but the metric is based on need.
Or...
One of them is that I have seen the evolution in the way we approach budgets now.
We still fight for our Wards, but the metric is based on need.
Or...
At least it should be.
You know a few folks will always try to find the cracks, haha.
However, if we set up the system properly we can identify that pretty quickly and adjust. That way future Councils can inherit a more equitable and sensible approach to budgets.
It’s...
You know a few folks will always try to find the cracks, haha.
However, if we set up the system properly we can identify that pretty quickly and adjust. That way future Councils can inherit a more equitable and sensible approach to budgets.
It’s...
...a work in progress.
We improve as we go.
The main thing here is that you have to put in the work. You have to present your ideas in way that will make sense to others, and you have to put the good of all ahead of the good of yourself.
Idealistic? Sure
Better than cynicism.
We improve as we go.
The main thing here is that you have to put in the work. You have to present your ideas in way that will make sense to others, and you have to put the good of all ahead of the good of yourself.
Idealistic? Sure
Better than cynicism.
I’ve also got a neat story about the Financial Stabilization Reserve (think: Heritage Trust Fund - close but different).
But...I’ll save that story for another day.
There’s an old quote I’ve never forgotten:
“All that glitters is not gold.”
Substance over style.
But...I’ll save that story for another day.
There’s an old quote I’ve never forgotten:
“All that glitters is not gold.”
Substance over style.
