Budget time is when elected representatives feel the pressure of reconciling the public wants against the fiscal realities.
Very few funding requests they receive are fundamentally unreasonable; but when put into the context of financial reality, the demands conflict, making some decisions feel arbitrary. Cavan Monaghan Council members received some direction regarding their role in the financial management of the township in an extensive orientation session last month. New legislation coming into effect next month encourages more transparency and greater personal responsibility for actions, and includes a formalized Code of Conduct. Council members are already personally on the hook for decisions relating to the Safe Water Act and Occupational Health and Safety issues, among others. Soon they will have a more significant role in the long term management of municipal assets. As their job becomes increasingly complex, it’s good to know they operate in an open, transparent environment where, unlike in some jurisdictions, decisions are not made behind closed doors. KG
