The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
ÒI didnÕt know the city was doing that I saw it in the paper!Ó Over the years, I donÕt know how many times IÕve heard that comment, or some colourful variation thereof, from frustrated readers. I heard it again just a few weeks ago after The Reminder reported on city councilÕs vote to sponsor the Flin Flon Bombers to the tune of $7,500 this season. The motion brought the cityÕs total sponsorship of the team to $26,000 over the past three years. Naturally, the criticism I heard came from people who see little value in funneling tax money into sports teams, particularly given the infrastructure challenges we as a community face. But beyond that, there was a sense of disappointment, if not something stronger, that taxpayers did not know about the motion until it had already passed. I donÕt think most residents have a problem with the city spending $7,500 to support something as vital as the Bombers. But I do think they would welcome some method of informing the public ahead of time about planned motions to spend their money. Currently, most funding motions are made public moments before they are voted on. Unlike by-law amendments, which require three readings at two separate meetings, there is no Òheads upÓ giving the public at large a chance to respond prior to a final decision. The consequence is that, often, Flin Flonners find out how their money was spent through media coverage. That may be the norm where federal and provincial governments are concerned, but in the purest form of government, the local level, we can do better. All of City HallÕs big capital expenditures are clearly outlined ahead of time in the annual financial plans, but items like the Bomber sponsorship pop up without advance notice. ThatÕs not to say thereÕs been any wrongdoing, because there hasnÕt. This is just the way things have always been done, and IÕm not aware of other municipalities that operate much differently. That said, there is a more cogent approach. Rather than making taxpayers feel out of the loop, City Hall could devise a mechanism to give advance notice to the public of planned votes, especially when our tax dollars are involved. This would strengthen democracy. Rather than trying to attend every single city council meeting Ð a time-consuming exercise in boredom for most Ð citizens would know when the issues important to them are going to surface. They could then file into the Council Chambers and speak their minds, either for or against. Council would gain a better appreciation of public views and take them into account before pulling the purse strings. How might the public be given notice? The city could purchase a monthly space in this newspaper or regular ads on local radio. If itÕs feasible, they could even examine mail-outs included with our bills. Whatever works efficiently. The mediaÕs job is to ensure the public knows how their money is being spent. It should be City HallÕs job to let the public know how it proposes to spend that money and give people a chance to speak their minds. Every dollar counts. Local Angle runs Fridays.
