By Cecilia Nasmith

The Town of Cobourg has announced a public budget meeting to allow citizens to share ideas on municipal service priorities (and how they would like to see municipal tax dollars spent), as it begins the process of drawing up its 2019 municipal operating and capital budget.

The meeting is planned for 6 p.m. Jan. 14 in council chambers on the third floor east at Victoria Hall (55 King St. W.). The agenda will be published at https://cobourg.civicweb.net.

The budget-review process begins in October, when the management team reviews their respective departments' preliminary budget numbers. The budget committee (consisting of Chief Administrative Officer Stephen Peacock, Deputy Mayor Suzanne Seguin and Treasurer Ian Davey) then review the proposed budget and invite citizens to provide their feedback before a submission to council for review. This process allows for more consultation among departmental budgets with a week's time given to each for discussion.

Input and submissions for the Jan. 14 public meeting can be e-mailed to the deputy mayor at sseguin@cobourg.ca or in person at the meeting. If you wish to make a presentation to council at that time provide a written submission to Municipal Clerk Brent Larmer (e-mail address blarmer@cobourg.ca). Each presenter will be allotted a maximum of 15 minutes.

The public input will help inform the town of citizens' priorities for programs and services for the upcoming budget year, and members of the public are highly encouraged to participate in upcoming community-council sessions.

Dates are still to be determined for the special council budget session and for final approval of the municipal budget by council (which will take place at a regular council meeting). All upcoming budget dates will be posted at cobourg.ca once they are determined.

All open public meetings will take place in council chambers at Victoria Hall, and will also be broadcast live on the town's YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/towncobourg).

For more information on Cobourg's 2019 operating and capital budget, visit www.cobourg.ca.