The City of Prince George is moving ahead with a core service review.
On Monday city council approved the plan to hire consultants to assess the efficiency of city services and review revenue sources. Conducting a core service review was a key plank in Mayor Shari Green's platform. The proposed service review is estimated to cost $350,000 and take until September to complete.
"I'm anticipating that the results will more than make up for those costs year over year," Green said. "I think the timeline is excellent."
Green and city councillors Cameron Stolz, Albert Koehler and Frank Everitt were appointed to the city select committee, which will prepare the terms of reference for the review and oversee the work of the consultant.
In a report to city council, city manager Derek Bates said the review will examine the services offered directly by the city, and those contracted by the RCMP, Initiatives Prince George, Tourism Prince George, Northern Sport Centre, 2015 Canada Winter Games, Regional District of Fraser Fort George and other agencies.
The services provided directly and indirectly by the city will be compared to similar communities, Bates wrote in the report. In addition, the review will assess the city's grant programs, tax exemptions, provision of low-cost leases to community organizations, user fees, charges and ability to acquire additional grants. The report will make recommendations to city council on how to reduce expenses and diversify revenue sources, Bates wrote.
On the table for review will be wages, staffing levels, service levels, governance and administration structures.
"It's clear the city is facing some serious challenges in preparing its five-year service plan," Bates said. "I think the core review will provide a very good state of affairs."
Not all members of council were happy with the budget and timeline for the review.
"We're going to be moving into our budget discussions this fall," Coun. Lyn Hall said. "I'm wondering if there is an opportunity to get that done sooner."
Bates said it will take a minium of five months to conduct the review, once a consultant is hired.
Coun Garth Frizzell proposed an ammendment to restrict the cost of the review to $120,000; however the motion was not seconded. Everitt proposed the cost of the review to $250,000 which was defeated by council.
"The City of Toronto [core review] had a budget of $2 milion. We're looking at one sixth the cost, for a tiny percent of the population," Frizzell said.
Stolz, Green, Koehler, Wilbur and coucillors Dave Wilbur, Murry Krause and Brian Skakun supported the $350,000 budget.
"I'm not prepared to second guess [Bate's report]. Clearly the savings we're looking for will not be in one year or two years, it'll be over many years," Wilbur said.
The select committee will begin meeting in January to prepare the terms of reference.
