With the formality of first reading passed, city council can now begin budget discussions and deliberations.
Social Media commentators have already started speaking out against a possible 5.2% tax increase when most of the city’s forestry workers are on strike or laid off.
Mayor Sharie Minions said council is aware of the issues and will be putting the city’s finances under a microscope.
“This is the starting point, so we want people to engage,” she said. “If you have a problem with what you’re hearing we want to hear that, and if you’re supportive of what you’re hearing we want to hear those comments as well. This is the first opportunity for people to come out and start to give some formal input into our budget process and there will be several meetings over the next few months to do that.”
The next opportunity for budget discussions will be a committee of the whole meeting Monday at 4 pm.
The final budget and five-year financial plan needs to be filed by May.
