Residents share top budget priorities for 2020

Throughout the month of May, residents had the opportunity to share their opinion on how the municipality should prioritize programs and services in 2020 through the annual Budget Planning Survey. This year more than 940 participants responded to the survey*, yielding the highest response rate on the survey to date. Leduc residents have provided a clear direction on their top priorities in the 2020 Budget Planning Survey:

• 22 per cent – attract new / maintain current businesses and amenities
• 22 per cent – focus on long-term fiscal sustainability
• 15 per cent – preparing for and reacting to changes in the economy
• Property taxes:
- 15 per cent – finding ways to lower property taxes in future
- 13 per cent – ensure property taxes stay the same in future
- 11 per cent – planning for future growth to prevent overcrowding

“We were very pleased with the amount of responses we received from residents this year,” says Jennifer Cannon, director of Finance with the City of Leduc. “The survey has indicated that our residents enjoy the services we provide, and we will continue to plan for the future of this city and listen to the needs and wants of our ratepayers.”

Other notable statistics include:
• Overall, the majority of participants requested that service spending remain the same
• The following services had the highest percentage of residents requesting an increase in spending:
- 27 per cent Family and Community Support
- 24 per cent Police Protection & Enforcement Services
- 19 per cent Fire & Ambulance Services

• The following services had the highest percentage of residents requesting a decrease in spending:
- 22 per cent Recreation Centre Operations
- 21 per cent Library Services
- 21 per cent Community Development
- 21 per cent Public Transportation

The feedback found in the survey guides discussions at budget deliberations, which will be taking place in the fall in Leduc. All residents are encouraged to join the conversation by attending the meetings and/or following along on social media. More updates will be provided as we approach budget season in Leduc. The city greatly values the feedback we receive from our residents as we look ahead to a new year.

*It is important to note that they survey has two distinct sets of results: results that are taken from a controlled environment via phone calls (statistically valid) and results taken from the general public via Leduc.ca. The percentages are calculated from the statistically valid results, but the city takes both sets of results into consideration when deliberating the following year’s budget.

For more information on the results, visit Leduc.ca or call 780-980-7177.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Megan Hall, Corporate Communications
780–980–1554
mhall@leduc.ca