Bridgewater has officially started their 2017-18 budget process.
Mayor David Mitchell says he wanted to get the ball rolling a little early this year so there would be time to consult with the public.
“To try to go to the public. Instead of sitting around waiting for them to show up we’re going to try to go to them and seek their input.”
During his campaign David Mitchell said the tax rate is the number one concern for people living in the town and he feels now is the time to address it.
“We pay an exorbitant amount of taxes. So I don’t want to surprise the director of finance with this grand idea of lowering taxes two weeks before we pass the budget so we’ll start that discussion in January.”
Mitchell says the budget process is a little like reinventing the wheel every year.
But, he says, it’s important to engage the public and make sure council’s priorities match the needs of the community.
