The municipality has launched an online survey to gather public input on where and how their property tax dollars are spent.
It’s part of the multi-year budget process that council will tackle for next year and beyond.
At Let’s Talk Chatham-Kent residents can have their say on the 2024-2027 Chatham-Kent budget through a survey that allows them to express their thoughts on what services they deem important and whether spending should be increased or decreased.
Throughout the survey, participants are asked to provide as much information as they like.
This first multi-year process is entitled “Investing in Today. Empowering Tomorrow.”
The survey concludes with opportunity for residents to provide general comments.
Results and public comments will be used by administration in the development of the budget and will be provided to Chatham-Kent council prior to deliberations, according to municipal officials.
Steve Brown, Chatham-Kent’s director of budget and performance services, said the online survey provides residents the opportunity to assist in developing the municipality’s spending plan for the next four years.
Brown said the survey is the first of two such surveys.
The second survey to be launched in late summer will allow residents to weigh in on potential recommended changes prior to the draft budget being released to council on Nov. 15.
Completing the surveys doesn’t preclude residents from voicing their opinions later as well.
“The more information we have and the earlier we have it, the better we can understand the needs of the community,” Brown said.
The online survey will be open until June 26.
