Sharp Sonya:Calgary's Budget Process: A Call for Transparency and Accountability

Sharp Sonya;


Calgary's Budget Process: A Call for Transparency and Accountability

As Calgarians open their tax bills, they deserve to understand where their money is going. However, the current budget process is complicated, unclear, and nearly impossible for taxpayers to follow. The CD Howe Institute recently gave Calgary a "D" grade for budgeting, citing a lack of transparency and accountability. This is unacceptable for a city that prides itself on being entrepreneurial and forward-thinking.

The current budget reveal has left many questions unanswered, and the lack of clarity has sent a signal to industry that Calgary is not business-friendly. The budget process should be simple, transparent, and accountable, with a focus on core services and responsible management of taxpayer dollars. To achieve this, a finance standing policy committee should be reintroduced to review every department and business unit's budget in detail and in public.

As a mayoral candidate, I commit to bringing accountability back to City Hall. This means cutting unnecessary spending, prioritizing core services, and ensuring that the mayor's office and counsellors' budgets are the first and last to be reviewed at the start and end of every four-year budget term. Transparency is the best way to rebuild trust, and leadership is about setting the standard, not lowering the bar.

The current budget process is a mess, and it's time for a change. Calgarians work hard for every dollar, and they deserve to know how their money is being spent. It's time for a budget process that is transparent, accountable, and worthy of the people who call Calgary home.

Key Takeaways:

 The current budget process is complicated and lacks transparency and accountability.
 A finance standing policy committee should be reintroduced to review every department and business unit's budget in detail and in public.
 The mayor's office and counsellors' budgets should be the first and last to be reviewed at the start and end of every four-year budget term.
 Transparency is key to rebuilding trust and ensuring accountability in the budget process.
* Calgarians deserve to know how their money is being spent and to have a budget process that is worthy of their hard-earned dollars.