Documents › Board of Trustees Work Session, 2025-12-04

budget 13 pages

Also attached to this agenda item: Budget survey memo Tuscon - Budget Engagement Survey for Fiscal Year 2026 - Index

Budget Survey What we heard What we heard. Budget Engagement ............................................................................... Respondents ........................................................................................... Priorities ................................................................................................... Municipal Services .................................................................................. Property Taxes and Service Levels ...................................................... Infrastructure ........................................................................................... Communication ....................................................................................... 3-4 7-8 10-12 City staff created opportunities for budget participation that included an online, bilingual budget survey, and a series of ward meetings for in-person public discussion and feedback. Over 340 people participated in the ward meetings. A ward meeting summary has been provided to City Council as part of their 2024 Budget Package. Survey Summary The budget survey was open for just over 4 weeks from October 1 to October 31, 2023. The survey asked for feedback on high-level topics and questions to better align the goals of the municipality, residents, business owners, and local organizations. The survey results are provided to City Council and Finance staff to help inform decision- making and identify public requests and feedback for budget consideration. There were 777 survey responses. What we heard. On May 16, 2023, City Council requested that enhanced opportunities for public participation be added to the budget process, including a public engagement survey on budgetary needs. Council identified public engagement as necessary in the provision of a fully transparent process for municipal budgeting. Budget Engagement What we heard. Respondents had the option to identify as a resident, business owner, or non-resident. They could provide their ward, age group, and choose to complete the survey in French or English. 747 respondents completed the survey in English, 30 respondents completed the survey in French. Each question was optional. Totals do not include skipped responses. Respondents Residents Business Owner Non-resident Prefer not to say Ward 1 Ward 2 Ward 3 Ward 4 Ward 5 90.12% of respondents completed the survey as a resident. Ward 5 accounted for 55.93% of the survey responses. You are completing this survey as a: What ward do you live in? What we heard. Respondents Under 18 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66-75 Over 75 The largest number of respondents were aged 36-45, spanning two different age distribution groups identified by Statistics Canada. The majority of respondents also represented the largest share of the working-age population. 375 respondents were between the ages of 26-55. Safety Infrastructure Housing Recreation and Tourism Core Services Environment Economy Community Safety and Well-Being Shared Safety 43.1% Addiction and Mental Health 27.3% Homelessness 17.7% Youth Engagement 12% What we heard. To help better align City Council’s term priorities and the goals of the public and local organizations, respondents were asked to rank City Council’s priorities based on their own priorities for the city. Priorities 241 respondents ranked safety and the collaboration and support of service agencies and organizations committed to improving community safety, as their No. 1 priority. 0 100 200 300 400 500 5.75 5.25 4.67 3.68 3.63 2.85 2.17 Respondents were also asked to rank the four Community Safety and Well-Being priorities based on their own priorities for the city. Well-Being 43.1% What we heard. Municipal Services Safety Roads and sidewalks Recreation (arenas and facilities) Sewer, water, and wastewater Parks and outdoor spaces Fire Services Waste Management Tourism Economic Development Planning / Neighbourhood Design Building a green and sustainable community Building permits, inspections, and enforcement Public Transit Library Active Transportation / Bike Lanes Arts and Culture Respondents were asked to pick their Top 5 municipal services or service priorities. Results showed that safety, along with roads and sidewalks, received the highest number of responses, followed by recreation, water and wastewater, and parks and outdoor spaces. What we heard. Property Taxes and Service Levels Respondents were asked to rate their understanding of how municipal taxes are used, and to rate the value of their tax dollar using a scale of Very Good, Good, Neither Good or Poor, Poor, or Very Poor. Please rate your understanding of how your municipal tax dollars are used? Neither Good or Poor Good Poor Very Poor Very Good How would you rate the value for your tax dollar? 52.5% 38.8% 8.7% Somewhat understand Good understanding Do not understand Maintain with inflationary increase Decrease property taxes and reduce service levels Unsure Increase property taxes and enhance service levels What we heard. Property Taxes and Service Levels Respondents were asked to consider whether they wanted to maintain, enhance, or reduce levels of municipal service, with respect to inflation and increasing or decreasing property taxes for 2024. Which of the following options would you prefer? If the City needs to increase the amount of revenue it collects from citizens to offset rising costs, how would you prefer that this be accomplished? 51% 41% 8% By increasing existing user fees By introducing new types of user fees By increasing property taxes Very Important Somewhat Important Not Important Unsure What we heard. Infrastructure Respondents were asked to consider how important it is to maintain the City’s current infrastructure. Roads, bridges, arenas, and community centres need repairs and updates to maintain existing service levels, and ensure they continue to meet the community’s needs. How important is investing in new infrastructure to you (i.e. new buses, new arenas, etc.) Very Important Somewhat Important Not Important Unsure Watched or attended a budget meeting Municipal Property Tax Calculator Prior year budget packages Communicated with Mayor / City Council Long-term Financial Plan "Property Assessment" video "How the City Budget Works" video What we heard. Communication Respondents were asked which current financial and property tax tools they have reviewed or used on the City of Timmins website in the last 5 years. The responses will help determine what tools to promote and/or develop in the future. Social Media Other (Email and online news) Timmins.ca Word of Mouth Print Media Ward Meetings Local Radio None of the Above What we heard. Communication Respondents were asked how they heard about the 2024 online budget survey and how they would prefer to be engaged in the budget process in the future. The responses will help determine engagement activities and communication moving forward. What we heard. Communication In the future, how would you like to be engaged in the budget process? Online Budget Survey Public Consultation Attend Public Budget Meetings Contact Council Directly Public Deputations Other (social media and phone)