The City of Kelowna is changing the way it puts together its annual budget.

Staff presented the issue in a workshop to council at its morning meeting on Nov. 20.

含羞草研究社淭his was a significant change to what the organization had been used to,含羞草研究社� Joe Sass, city CFO. 含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 thrilled by the combined efforts and willingness to explore new processes and new ideas.含羞草研究社�

Traditionally staff and council have used an organizational approach to the annual budget.

The city is now introducing a service-based budget created around services rather than departments and divisions.

含羞草研究社淢embers of the public are increasingly holding municipalities accountable for the cost of services provided,含羞草研究社� Sass added.

Services, and associated service levels, are determined through council含羞草研究社檚 priorities, and the city含羞草研究社檚 strategic plan.

Coun. Ron Cannan asked if there would be opportunities for more public input on the budget.

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e always thinking and open-minded of new ways to connect with the community and perhaps use technology to do that,含羞草研究社� Sass replied. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 always on our mind and will continue to evolve as we move forward.含羞草研究社�

Cannan also asked about incentivizing city departments to work within budgets rather than continuing to automatically assume and add inflation.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 confident in saying that we have a culture, frankly, led by the city manager that we含羞草研究社檙e always looking for efficiencies and how we look inwardly and look at technology before we just add new things to budget,含羞草研究社� Sass said.

He added that the benefits of a service budget include enhanced accountability and transparency, better communication of where tax dollars are being spent, and greater clarity of services offered to the community.

Council will begin budget deliberations Dec. 7.

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