Prince Albert city councillors during 2021 budget deliberations. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Budget talks

Council asks for more detailed spending breakdown at future budget deliberations

Mar 16, 2021 | 12:00 PM

Prince Albert city council has asked administration to provide a more detailed breakdown of spending when it comes to documents provided during annual budget deliberations.

Coun. Tony Head, who brought the the idea for a “line by line budget” to council, said having the additional information will increase transparency and help council make better decisions with taxpayer money.

“We have to be answerable for the monies and the decisions we make here in these chambers,” Head told paNOW after the meeting. “Having administration held accountable as well, it gives us a better understanding of the services we provide and also what money is available for those services and for other programs that might come up.”

Councillors are supplied with multiple binders of information spanning the various departments and programs represented in the city’s approximately $70 million annual general fund budget. The public portion of those documents numbered 1,010 pages this year. Information focuses on increases or decreases in spending over last year in each department and area.

“I want to see more of what we’re spending that money on, not just the difference from last year,” Head said.

Raiders AGM

Raiders impact on Prince Albert local economy continues to go up: AGM report

5h ago

Court proceedings

'The impact of this trauma will echo for generations': court case surrounding La Ronge woman's death reaches conclusion

Dec 11, 2024

Going Global

P.A.'s Zablocki named to Team Canada for U18 Women's World Championships

Dec 11, 2024

While Head acknowledged the ask will mean more work for city adminstration come budget time, he noted council has given them plenty of notice to get ready and the pay-off will ultimately be worth it.

“Giving administration 10 or 11 months to prepare for that line by line budget item gives us an opportunity to make better decisions for Prince Albert residents,” he said.

–

alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom