Dane Gibson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Aug 06/99) - City councillor Bob Brooks doesn't want to start planning next year's budget without having a five-year economic plan in place.

He said while the various city departments have economic plans, there isn't one vision for the city those components move towards.

"We have all the components to a plan, but it's missing a vision from the citizens on what direction we should be going in," Brooks said.

"Right now, the separate components are dictating our direction. What we should be doing is determining a long-range financial vision and using the components to get us there."

Brooks has asked various members of city administration, other councillors, and the public for input on determining an outline on how to prepare the plan.

He said questions that should be answered in the preparation of a five-year plan could include: What type of services should the city provide and protect? How much money, if any, should the city carry in debt? How much money should be kept in reserves or set aside for emergencies?

"These are the types of questions that can be answered in a single format that is understandable and relevant to everybody," Brooks said.

"Preparing this vision would be a way for the public to give more meaningful input. The people will be able to express what their values are, and what direction they want the city to move in."

Brooks hopes to have a long-term financial vision for the city on paper before the 2000 budget process begins.

"We should have a five-year economic vision in front of us before we start working on a short, one-year budget. That way, all the decisions we make will move the city towards that vision," Brooks said.