Hello everyone! I wanted to share with you my comments that I provided at the public hearing for the next 4 year budget for the city of Calgary. Speaking at a public hearing doesn’t require a specific degree or public speaking skills. You can also email your councillors and submit comments online. You can do this anytime not just during budget deliberations. Once they have collected the public feedback the councillors than debate and deliberate on how they want to see the budget changed. This has an impact on city departments in terms of how many ppl they can hire or what projects they can do. For example if roads budgets decreased you may see less priority road repairs and instead a focus on major roadways. Everyone has a right to share what they think the money should be spent on. Over 80% of the people speaking advocated for more services, more environmental sustainability and inclusion. I’m proud of the folks who spoke. It’s not a perfect system Becuase many cannot go to city hall and speak on a week day, but I was happy to see others speak for those who can’t make it. We all pay property taxes (yes if you rent it’s likely built into your monthly rental rate and if you consume goods and services it’s factored into the price) and we all have a say in how the city should invest in its people over the next few years.