Preliminary deliberations begin today for the the 2014 Regional District of Fraser-Fort George budget.
The group's board of directors meet at 1 p.m. to take their first look at the year's financial plan, which won't be finalized until March.
Last year, the regional district board approved a $32.6 million operating budget that was led by solid waste requirements and 911 service improvements.
The board will consider 20 budgets in six service categories and their respective five-year financial plans, running the gamut from house numbering to environment and parks to economic development.
Among the proposed changes for this year are a 1.9 per cent requisition increase for general administration, which has on its workplan to prepare a succession, retention and recruitment strategy and provide support for a new community consultation committee; a 2.4 per cent requisition increase for 911 emergency response service - though expenses are going down by almost 16 per cent; and a 9.2 per cent requisition increase for regulating untidy and unsightly premises, which has a decreased surplus carrying forward from 2013 and an increased legal budget.
Public comments on the budget are being accepted through the regional district's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/RDFFG), on Twitter with the hashtag #RDFFGbudget or delivered to the office at 155 George St. To view the budgets, visit the website at https://rdffg.civicweb.net.
