The City of Moose Jaw has launched its 2024 budget and residents satisfaction survey, giving citizens the opportunity to say whether they like the direction city hall is taking the community.
“Before budget discussions begin in December, we want to hear how Moose Javians feel about the current state of city programs and services,” said city manager Maryse Carmichael.
“We ask Moose Jaw residents to take the survey and let us know your priorities before we deliberate the 2024 budget.”
The 2024 Budget and City Services Survey features 18 questions about what priorities city council should consider and asks residents their current satisfaction with City of Moose Jaw’s programs and services, including roadways, parks and recreation and economic development.
Some questions the survey asks include:
- What municipal programs or services residents appreciate or have used the most during the past year
- What kind of community residents want Moose Jaw to be
- What priorities council should focus on in budget deliberations to achieve residents’ desired community
- How satisfied residents are with the overall service quality they receive from the city
- How content citizens are with bylaw enforcement
- How satisfied residents are with water and wastewater services
- How pleased citizens are with parks and recreation venues and programs
- How satisfied residents are with road repair and maintenance
- How content citizens are with transit and paratransit services
- How pleased residents are with arts and culture in Moose Jaw, including at the art gallery and museum, library, Culture Centre, Events Centre/Multiplex, and other cultural programs and services
- How content people are with economic development in Moose Jaw
- What the most important issue facing Moose Jaw is
- What one change residents would implement that could result in a positive effect on quality of life
The survey opens with an explanation about the 4.62-per-cent property tax increase that city council levied for 2023, including 3.60 per cent for municipal programs and services and 1.02 per cent for the Moose Jaw Police Service.
Furthermore, council approved a four-per-cent increase to water rates, a three-per-cent increase to sewer rates and a $65 parks and recreation infrastructure levy to fund the department’s capital programs, including a new outdoor pool.
“Moose Jaw city council will soon deliberate and determine the 2024 operating and capital budgets. The operating budget covers expenditures and revenues associated with the day-to-day provision of services,” the survey intro says.
Meanwhile, the capital budget covers expenses used to acquire, construct, or improve infrastructure, buildings or machinery and equipment used to provide municipal services with a benefit lasting more than one year.
A pie chart shows a dollar breakdown of expenses for the City of Moose Jaw. For every dollar spent, 23 cents supports the police service; 21 cents goes to parks, recreation and culture; 18 cents supports governance and administration; 17 cents goes to protective services; 11 cents supports provisions and miscellaneous; and 10 cents goes to public works and engineering services.
The survey takes about nine minutes to complete and will be open until Monday, Oct. 9, at 11:59 p.m.
Residents can access the survey through the link on the free City of Moose Jaw app and the home page of the city’s website at www.MooseJaw.ca.
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