Public budget meeting set

The Town of Fort Frances has set its timetable for the 2005 budget process, with a public meeting slated to kick things off this Monday (Sept. 27).
In a report to council, Fort Frances CAO Mark McCaig said the timetable, approved by council last week, “allows for a public meeting to be utilized as an important facet of the budget.”
“During the past year, mayor, council, and staff have, on numerous occasions, noted that the 2005 budget will have many of the same financial challenges as the 2004 exercise,” he noted.
“There will undoubtedly be difficult decisions to be made, and public input is essential,” McCaig stressed.
Citizens or organizations wishing to make a presentation at Monday’s meeting, which will start after the committee of the whole meeting wraps up, are requested to contact Clerk Glenn Treftlin prior to noon tomorrow (Thursday).
Documents or materials for distribution also should be filed with Treftlin at this time. A maximum of 10 minutes will be allotted per presentation.
After Monday’s public meeting, the executive committees will review the information received during at various meetings during the week of Oct. 4-8.
The executive committees then will review the respective division budgets and recommendations from management in a series of meetings Oct. 18-22.
By Oct. 29, administration will present documents to Treasurer Peggy Dupuis, who then will make a draft budget, which will be reviewed by the committee of the whole at a series of meetings through November and early December.
The timetable notes the 2005 municipal budget should come before council for ratification at its Dec. 20 meeting.
A public meeting then is slated for Jan. 10, 2005, at which time council is expected to explain the budget and subsequently pass it as a bylaw.