Budget 2016-18 'What We Heard' Document Now Available

Today the City of St. John’s released ‘What We Heard’ during the three-month budget consultation process. The document reflects key themes and priority areas identified by residents and other stakeholders.
 
“When we launched the 2016-18 Budget consultations in June our goal was to inform and educate the public about the budgeting process using a variety of media and multiple opportunities to engage,” said Danny Breen, Chair of the Finance and Administration Standing Committee. “By providing online tools and a series of in-person events we tried to make it as easy as possible for people to participate.”
 
The process included:

• Online engagement at engagestjohns.ca with information about city programs and spending
• Online budget allocator tool
• Pop up engagement at City concert series and at the Avalon Mall
• Stakeholder meetings which included a variety of sectors
• Public roundtable

Resident and stakeholder priorities were slightly different depending on the tool they used to provide input. Those who participated online placed a greater emphasis on maintaining or increasing budgets for roads and transportation, waste management and water supply, and recreation and parks. Those who participated in person put community development ahead of other programs and services while also placing great value on roads and transportation, and recreation and parks.
 
Key themes that emerged throughout the process which cut across all stakeholder groups were:
 
Neighbourhoods, Planning and Development
Collaboration and Communication
Transportation and Accessibility
Demographics: Attraction and Retention
Identifying New Revenue Sources
 
Additional information about these themes and other details from the engagement process are included in the attached ‘What We Heard’ document.
 
Media Contact:
Kelly Maguire
Media Relations
City of St. John's
709-576-8491
kmaguire@stjohns.ca