Summerside budget consultations entertain and inform

Summerside used technology and hired a stand-up comic to radically change the dry and dull image of municipal budget consultations this week.

Laughs provided by P.E.I. comic Patrick Ledwell, and various budget options competing for the favour of the audience in real time on large screens at the front of the room, lent something of a game show atmosphere to the event.

The city used clicker technology to consult with the citizens who had gathered. They were asked multiple choice questions about various aspects of the budget, and asked to vote on their choice for what the city should do about taxes, and how it should spend its money.

Summerside resident Joan Lefurgey said she was excited by the process.

"It should give good consensus of the people that are here tonight," said Lefurgey.

Attendence up

The city has been holding public consultations on the budget for three years. The meetings typically attract a few dozen people at best. Meetings this week have drawn closer to 100.

Mayor Bill Martin said the technology will not only give council a better idea of what citizens want, it will also speed up the budget process. It plans to bring it down at the end of January, a couple of months earlier than usual.

"Organizations and entities that depend on our community grant process can know early in the year where they stand, as opposed to finding out in March," said Martin.

With the success of the technology so far, at this point the city is planning to use the clickers again next year.