Kitchener residents offer online feedback on 2017 city budget

A number of Kitchener citizenshadsomething to say online about the 2017 budget before the final vote next week.

For the first time the city used the online survey platform Engage Kitchener and saw the input increase two or three times more through this platform than others.

Ryan Hagey, the Director of Financial Planning with the City of Kitchener says some broad themes were raised through the online forum.

"The ones that made it to the top deal with capital budget and infrastructure spending as well as transportation, things like roads, sidewalks, trails, cycling,"said Hagey. "As well as the cost to the resident of the proposed budget."

• $56 property tax increase for average household in Waterloo region in 2017
• Guelphapproves 3.13 per cent tax increase for 2017

Public comments

Here is a sample of some of the comments collected by the Engage Kitchener survey:

• "It would be good to quantify infrastructure debt in the same way that financial debt is measured. Further, it would be good to highlight the difference between property taxes, and utility fees (which aren't the same as taxes)."
• "Fund Kitchener downtown wide Wi-Fi. Cement Kitchener's status as the technology hub of Canada."
• "Be cautious with rising property taxes. While inflation in rising at a steady rate, wages are not always following suit."
• "I am concerned about the impact of increases in property taxes and utility rates on seniors and vulnerable populations. I would support increases in property taxes being adjusted for income levels."
• "Why does it feel like fire budget is ever increasing and outpacing inflation?"
• "Keep on taxing. I'll just plant more money trees."

Kitchener council will set the 2017 budget at a special council meeting on Monday, January 23.