Portage la Prairie City Council's hoping to increase efficiencies, when it comes to how different departments are using their money. Historically, department managers and city administration have created budgets based on the department's needs, and then submitted them to council to be included in their annual budgets. However, Finance Chair Brent Budz explains proposed changes will reverse that process, with council providing no incease in funding to the departments, rather basing the funding on the historic need. However, he notes they're also going to be giving more power to department heads to use those funds within the department, as they see fit.

"It's a completely different approach, and I think it's a proactive approach. It gives more influence to the people on the ground in the departments if they need to move funding from one area to another, they then have the authority to do so."

Essentially, the changes will see Council outline parameters to the departments, with the goal of maintaining services by moving --rather than increasing-- city funding. Budz emphasizes while Council will propose a budget without increases to each department, there won't be cuts to the services citizens have come to expect.

"Council will be presented with a budget that says 'If we want to obtain and give you the same level of services as we did last year, the budget will be flat and we've been able to do that through the reallocation of resources.' Now, if we want to entertain new and additional services or new purchases within our operating budget, that will be up for the decision making process of council."

The changes would also mean funding could be reallocated from department to department by the managers. Budz notes that can help address some budgetary items that may not be able to be completed within the budget year.

"Quite honestly there are projects that are earmarked on an annual basis, and due to time constraints or different circumstances they quite simply can't get done. So then those budgeted dollars are sitting in a department, which could be used by another. It would allow the reallocation of resources by one department to another."

He says the goal of these changes is to better utilize taxpayer's money, and hopefully pass on the savings to Portage's residents.

"This is a different method of budgeting. It's not one that's uncommon in the municipal world, but it's new for us. I think 2017 will represent our first year doing it. We're excited about the ability to have inter-departmental sharing of resources. Again, it's all in an effort to be more efficient, more streamlined, and maximize what we can give back to citizens through our budget process."

The changes to the budget process will be voted on at Council's next meeting, on June 27th.