Barb Elliott
City/Township Council · North Dumfries Ward 4
Back to candidatesThis candidate finalized their responses after this guide and scoring methodology was published.
Budget & Taxes
Do you think the Region's or municipality's budget process should be more transparent and accessible to residents?single choice
It should be more transparent and accessible
Municipal and regional costs have generally risen faster than revenues restricted by property tax rules and limited local revenue tools. How would you balance tax increases against maintaining service levels and long-term financial sustainability?select up to 3 per part
A. Revenue approaches
- Moderate, predictable tax increases to maintain service levels
- Area-specific levies where residents in a defined area receive or request a distinct level of service
- Actively pursue provincial and federal transfer funding and grants
D. Growth & cost recovery
- Ensure new development pays a greater share of long-term infrastructure costs
- Re-evaluate development incentives or subsidies that create long-term liabilities
B. Service levels
- Maintain current service levels, even if taxes rise
- Adjust service delivery models to reduce costs without reducing access
- Reduce discretionary programs to protect core services
C. Capital & infrastructure
- Prioritize maintenance and state-of-good-repair over expansion
- Require lifecycle cost analysis before approving any new infrastructure
- Defer or cancel capital projects with low long-term return on investment
If you chose "It should be more transparent and accessible", please describe how.candidate's own words
Municipal budgets should be presented in plain language and in formats residents can easily understand. People should be able to see what is changing, why it is changing, how it affects the tax bill, what services are being maintained or reduced, and how major capital projects will be funded over time.