Town staff are working on the first ever homegrown budget for the amalgamated municipality of Tantramar. The current year’s budget was written and approved by the provincial government, but for 2024, it’s local staff and council that will get final say on how to spend approximately $15.5 million on behalf of the municipality.

As part of the process, staff are seeking some input from citizens. CHMA called up town treasurer Mike Beal and corporate services director Kieran Miller to find out more about what they have planned, starting with a public meeting slated for September 19, inviting residents to weigh in on budget priorities.

Residents interested in speaking directly to council on September 19 are being asked to email the clerk’s office in advance to get on the list, and will have up to five minutes to speak. “It’s not a lot of time,” says Beal, “but it gives an opportunity for even individuals to come and pinpoint a specific item that they’d like to get on council’s radar as we prepare the first draft of a 2024 budget for Tantramar.”

“The meeting is an opportunity for any citizens and groups or organizations to come and give their feedback on things they’d like to see happen within the municipality,” says Beal. The deadline to register is September 12, but Beal says there’s a possibility of getting on the list after that depending on how many presentations are scheduled.

For those less inclined to public speaking, the town is also asking for input via an online survey which asks residents to choose where they’d like to see enhanced or reduced services by department, and also to choose their top three spending priorities from a long list.

Miller says staff will summarize the results once the survey closes on September 22. “We’re just going to look and see if there’s any common themes from the information submitted, if there’s anything that’s not there that we thought would be,” says Miller.

The survey also collects demographic information which Miller says will not impact that results, but is just there to make sure the survey reaches a diverse group of people. “It just helps us know who’s submitting the survey, who’s engaging, and then who we’re not getting, so we can try and figure out how to reach those residents,” says Miller. “Each voice has the same importance.”

The survey is online but also available on paper with copies available at Sackville and Dorchester libraries as well as town hall.

Miller says it’s also possible for residents to share feedback via social media or by contacting councillors directly.