Mayor Sherri Green
Posted by Kenneth Pendergast
Mayor Sherri Green was our guest and speaker this morning at Nechako Rotary
Mayor Green provided the club with an update on events in Prince George and Council during her short span of time as Mayor.
Council have been very active during this period with a strong focus on changing the fiscal management within the City.
The Mayor and Council have chosen to conduct a "Core Review" for the City and will engage a consulting firm to create a list of options for the City from this review.
Council is also focusing their attention on a "Business Committee" to look at ways to improve opportunity for both small and large business in Prince George.
This concept is also generating interest in other communities in the province and of similar interest by the Provincial Government.
One of the significant challenges facing our Council is dealing with an ever growing Annual Budget process.
Council has set a target of 3.12% general increase in the Budget. This means a reduction of $1.6 million dollars in City salaries and expenses.
This constraint has required the removal of a number of regular positions within the City employment. Some of these positions were already vacant, but has required the laying off of 9 City employees.
City is currently reviewing our "Snow & Road Budget" and have chosen to hold the line on the 2011 budget level, which is currently the highest levels of funding experienced for this expense.
Sherri spoke briefly about some of the future vision Council is facing, including our "Civic Pride"; the upcoming "100 year Anniversary Celebration of Prince George, which is also tied directly with the 2015 Canada Winter Games" and the "River Road Project."
The River Road Project entails committing an additional $3.6 million dollars along with funding from both Federal and Provincial dollars, to create a Dyke the length of River Road from the Nechako Bridge to the CN Railway Bridge. Funding this much needed project could cost an additional .32% increase in general taxes to both citizens and businesses in Prince George.
Mayor Green was thanked for her presentation by Rotarian Harry Hufty, with another donation to our Polio Plus Program.
Mayor Green provided the club with an update on events in Prince George and Council during her short span of time as Mayor.
Council have been very active during this period with a strong focus on changing the fiscal management within the City.
The Mayor and Council have chosen to conduct a "Core Review" for the City and will engage a consulting firm to create a list of options for the City from this review.
Council is also focusing their attention on a "Business Committee" to look at ways to improve opportunity for both small and large business in Prince George.
This concept is also generating interest in other communities in the province and of similar interest by the Provincial Government.
One of the significant challenges facing our Council is dealing with an ever growing Annual Budget process.
Council has set a target of 3.12% general increase in the Budget. This means a reduction of $1.6 million dollars in City salaries and expenses.
This constraint has required the removal of a number of regular positions within the City employment. Some of these positions were already vacant, but has required the laying off of 9 City employees.
City is currently reviewing our "Snow & Road Budget" and have chosen to hold the line on the 2011 budget level, which is currently the highest levels of funding experienced for this expense.
Sherri spoke briefly about some of the future vision Council is facing, including our "Civic Pride"; the upcoming "100 year Anniversary Celebration of Prince George, which is also tied directly with the 2015 Canada Winter Games" and the "River Road Project."
The River Road Project entails committing an additional $3.6 million dollars along with funding from both Federal and Provincial dollars, to create a Dyke the length of River Road from the Nechako Bridge to the CN Railway Bridge. Funding this much needed project could cost an additional .32% increase in general taxes to both citizens and businesses in Prince George.
Mayor Green was thanked for her presentation by Rotarian Harry Hufty, with another donation to our Polio Plus Program.