The results of Norfolk County’s 2021 budget engagement campaign will be presented to Council on Oct. 13.
Staff launched the campaign on Aug. 24 with a dedicated web page, budget survey, and promotional marketing and communications.
Approximately 25 members of the public took part in a virtual engagement session on Sept. 21. This meeting included a short presentation by Finance staff and a Q and A session with participants.
More than 1,200 people of all ages and from all across Norfolk took the online survey.
Among the survey results:
- A majority of people support keeping tax increases at or below the rate of inflation
- Three quarters of respondents favoured user fees of at least 50% of a service cost
- Services ranked most important to residents include parks and trails, libraries and arenas
- Services ranked least important to residents include public transit, museums and recreational programming (excluding aquatics)
- There is strong support for reducing the number of County buildings through the consolidation of operations
- Nearly 60% of people feel the Tourism and Economic Development department should focus equally on tourism and economic development
- Increased online booking and payment options was the most popular of three potential ways to improve the County’s customer service
The survey results will help to inform Council’s decision-making during upcoming budget deliberations.
Budget meetings are currently scheduled for:
Oct. 27: Capital budget
Nov. 24: Rate-supported operating budget (water and wastewater)
Jan. 6-7: Levy-supported operating budget
All meetings will be streamed live at norfolkcounty.ca/watch.