Making Choices - The 1998 Pre-Budget Public Consultation
Some Choices To Think About
The Pre-Budget Consultation allows you to bring to the attention
of government any matters you feel should have a bearing on the
1998 Budget. Many of the financial issues are well known and
widely discussed. But you can also bring forward any new issues
that are of interest or concern to you.
Government consideration of budget issues revolves around three main topics - the expenditure priorities, the appropriate level of taxation and the prudence of adding to the debt.
Issues you may want to comment on could include:
Expenditures
What is your view of the expenditure priorities? Where we are spending too little? Where may we be spending too much?
What impact is expenditure restraint having on public programs and services, your community, organization or yourself?
Should spending be increased in some area? How should this amount be made up from reduced spending in other areas?
Should
government increase partnering with the private sector if
that arrangement would deliver the same quality of public
service at lower cost?
Taxation
Where should government look to for more revenue if this is needed to address a budgetary shortfall; increase existing taxes, impose new taxes or greater cost recovery from government services not used by everyone?
What impacts are taxation levels having on the economy or your personal circumstances?
Following our
HST tax cut, when our fiscal situation improves, which
tax or taxes should see the next cuts?
Debt
What is a responsible and prudent level of deficit and borrowing given our fiscal circumstances?
Three Year Plan
To what degree does a multi-year budget plan contribute to more effective financial management and service delivery?
Should we continue to move toward sustainable balanced budgets, even if this is not always possible given our economic and fiscal circumstances?
MHA Pension Plan
What degree of support should Government provide for MHA pensions?