City budget process requires more talks in early December

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on November 23, 2022.

https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

City council’s new budget process lurched forward Monday, but after councillors sat until 11 p.m. on Monday, more discussions will be needed early next month before a vote.

Council members heard presentations this week and asked questions about budget requests from the Medicine Hat Public Library and Medicine Hat Police Service (which both develop their own budgets). Council also heard an overview of changes at the corporate services division, but adjourned the office of strategic management analysis budget. That final presentation is scheduled for council’s Dec. 5 meeting.

A new process this year saw councillors discuss the coming two-year budget at a committee of the whole session last week. Initial schedule stated the budget could be passed at the first regular meeting in December, but it could be held over until Dec. 19.

It must be in place before Jan. 1.

Separately on Monday, council approved the utility fee-setting bylaws laid out in the business plans of the utility departments first presented on Nov. 7.

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