COQUITLAM, B.C., Nov. 1, 2022 – As the City prepares its 2023 budget, the Coquitlam community members are invited to provide feedback through an online survey.
From Nov. 1 to 30, Coquitlam residents and businesses can participate in the budget planning process by visiting letstalkcoquitlam.ca/budget. Through a short online survey, participants will have the opportunity to share whether the City is spending the right amount in areas that are important to them. The insight gained from public input will be provided to Council along with staff input and recommendations in order to support decision-making as part of the annual budget deliberation process.
Your Input Helps Make Balanced Decisions
Public participation in the annual budget planning process helps to ensure the City’s budget reflects the community’s current wants and needs. It also helps inform the community on how city budgets are created, in addition to how your property tax dollars are spent. Public feedback helps the City balance individual needs, along side the needs of a growing community while delivering on key priorities and projects in a measured way, especially during times of economic uncertainty.
The Complex Process of Budgeting
The annual budget planning for a city the size of Coquitlam is a complex, months-long process involving input from Council, staff, the City’s cultural partners (Coquitlam Public Library, Evergreen Cultural Centre, Place des Arts and Coquitlam Heritage Society) and the public.
Coquitlam has a strong foundation for financial resiliency, which has provided stability through uncertain times. As the City emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that the City’s financial plans continue to maintain a balanced approach managed through a variety of Council-approved long-range policies. This includes planning for community growth and the capital investment required to provide infrastructure, amenities, programs and services for existing and future residents.
As Council considers the 2023 Budget, they recognize the impacts that the current economic conditions may have on residents and local business, as well as the need to maintain service levels and protect the long-term sustainability of City assets in order to provide a high quality of life for everyone.
Learn more about the City’s financial approach at coquitlam.ca/financialplan.
Other Interactive Ways to View City Budget Data
Through the City’s statistically-valid Citizen Satisfaction Survey, Coquitlam residents have advised that they are interested in knowing more about City spending and City projects. Coquitlam makes that information available through a data visualization tool called Coquitlam OpenBook. Using this tool, residents can explore the City’s data through informational text and clickable maps, charts and graphs. The following categories are available:
- 2022-2026 approved capital budgets, broken into budget groups;
- 2022 capital project explorer, including maps, budgets and background details on 21 projects;
- 2022 operating budget, broken down by department; and
- 2021 Annual Report, the most recent audited financial statement data.
Users can search and filter within OpenBook to dig down into more detailed information on the topics that interest them and can also provide feedback through the form linked to the site’s menu bar.
For more information about the data viewed online, refer to the 2022 Financial Plan at www.coquitlam.ca/budget or contact Financial Planning staff at financialplanning@coquitlam.ca.
Media contact:
Gorana Cabral
Director Finance
City of Coquitlam
604-927-3030
financialplanning@coquitlam.ca