Aurora wants to know how residents want tax dollars spent

YorkRegion.com
Aug. 15, 2016
By Teresa Latchford

Tell Aurora how you want your tax dollars spent.

The town wants to engage more residents to participate in the budget process through the use of online tools and social media.

All residents are invited to contribute to the 2017 municipal budget process through the use of an online tool, Aurora’s Citizen Budget. The interactive tool allows residents to explore 13 core service areas and how an increase or decrease in funding allocations would impact current service levels.

For example, participants will be able to see how their taxes increase if they want to build a new community centre or how it could decrease by reducing the number of programs offered through the town’s recreational facilities.

“The Citizen Budget is truly an innovative approach to engaging citizens and providing us with the input and feedback we need to make the best decisions possible for the town,” Mayor Geoff Dawe said, noting the town wants to see as many residents as possible participating in the 2017 budget process.

Town staff and elected officials will attend a number of community events encouraging people to complete the budget survey on-site.

The online survey will be available until Oct. 31 at aurora.ca/budget and, as an added bonus, those who participate will be entered to win $250 toward their municipal tax account.

The results of the survey will be compiled and presented to council in November.

Beyond the survey, the town will reach out to residents via Twitter and Facebook using #aurorabudget. Three videos will also be posted to the town’s YouTube channel to provide more information on how tax dollars are spent and how the budget process works.

You are invited to attend any of the budget meetings. A full list of meeting dates can be found at aurora.ca.