Key Messages...
Municipal Budgets & Financial Planning
Astute management of public funds is not simply a case of keeping tax increases to zero. In fact, this approach will no doubt catch up with us at some point. What is required is effective management of all Town and District resources - from people and technology, to bridges and roads. This means a long-term, realistic view, and an approach which builds in contingency and planning. This means appropriate priority setting, understanding the needs of the entire community.
There is only one taxpayer. Redundancies and inefficiencies across the various levels of government lead to ineffective services and, certainly, to frustration for that taxpayer. As an elected official, I know I am entrusted to manage municipal resources in the most effective way possible. I take this very seriously. There are competing needs across the community, of course, but managing these complexities in a thoughtful and practical way is key. Clarity and transparency in the decisions that need to be made develops trust with both the taxpayer and with the municipal staff who are tasked with carrying out agreed policies. No surprises. Clear direction.
In my term as mayor of Armour Township, Council set out a strategic roadmap for the municipality in 2022 and produced a 'report card' on progress every 6 months. We attained the vast majority of our goals, exceeded some, and adjusted when we needed to. All while maintaining the lowest overall residential tax rate in the Almaguin Highlands. Cooperation, clarity, trust and transparency all helped us achieve our goals.