Brandon City Council is preparing to deliberate the proposed 2024 budget this weekend – a budget proposed by City administration to be needs-based, balancing sustainability and affordability.
Proposed critical repairs and improvements Brandon residents will see include:
-Additional police officers to keep Brandon streets safe
-Expansion of the police cadet program downtown
-More paramedics for an additional ambulance on the road, making sure help comes quickly when people need it
-An upgraded water treatment plant to keep drinking water safe
-Land drainage improvement to prevent homes and basements from flooding
-The next steps on the Maple Leaf Foods Sports Field Complex
-A new ice plant at the Brandon Community Sportsplex, which will mean reopening the rink for skaters
-New busses for Brandon Transit and Brandon Access Transit fleet, making sure people have a safe and reliable ride
Other key enhancements include:
-Critical infrastructure replacement
-Climate change strategies
-Affordable housing solutions
-Supports and resources for downtown revitalization
-Improved City communications
For the first time, City Council was provided with a four-year proposed budget to understand how this year’s decisions will impact taxes and the City’s coffers in the years ahead. Council will be able to see in real time how each decision they make impacts the budget over the next four years.
The 2024 proposed budget requires a total 11.2 per cent increase in revenue. The City has four revenue sources: grants (including funding from the provincial and federal governments); reserves; borrowing; taxes and fees.
City Council welcomes comments or feedback on the proposed 2024 budget, which can be emailed to budget@brandon.ca.
All proposed budget documents can be viewed on the City of Brandon website at City of Brandon – Proposed 2024 Budget
Brandon City Council will begin formal deliberations on the 2024 municipal budget on Friday, Feb. 2 at 8:30 a.m. in Council Chambers. Deliberations will reconvene on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 8:30 a.m.
Deliberations will be held in the City of Brandon Council Chamber on the second floor of Brandon City Hall and are open to the public and media to observe.
You can also follow the presentations and deliberations on the City of Brandon’s YouTube Channel – youtube.com/@CityofBrandonMB. Westman Communications Group TV (WCGtv) will also be live streaming this event on channel 12 and online at westmancom.com/personal/wcgtv/watch-live.
