Open and transparent Government at work.

Below is an excerpt from an e-mail I just received from the CFO of NORD in response to my question:

"I see by the agenda that there is plans to adopt the five year financial plan this afternoon . Can you advise when the plan will be available so the public can prepare their public input as required by the LGA ?"

ANSWER:

The public is given the ability for public input through the Regional Board and all of its Committees responsible for specific services. For 2008, an advertisement was sent out in August of 2007 informing the public that the financial plans will be looked at between September and December with the Final Budget being adopted in March 2008. The public was invited to provide their input to the Committees and Regional Board. The overall Regional District Financial Plan was presented to the Regional Board earlier than in previous years January 24, 2008, instead of in February or March as in prior years. The Regional District has also makes itself available, when requested by its member municipalities, to present the financial plan to their whole Council. After final adoption of the Financial Plan it is then forwarded to both the Province and all member municipalities within the Regional District.

This process is consistent with previous years with the added addition of an initial meeting involving all the Regional Board Directors this year. As there are no specific guidelines within either the Community Charter or Local Government Act as to what the public involvement process should be each Local Government determines the process which the believe works best for them. The Regional District is always open to any and all suggestions which could improve the process.
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Don Quixote Note: Looks like I missed the advertisement in August of 2007. I guess the public can ask to speak to the various committees etc about a budget that they will not see until after it is passed.I guess I have to hope my representatives will properly go through budget deliberations and protect my interests and pocketbook.