Both the city and its councillors have provided some, though little, detail about what to expect for its upcoming budget.
Last year's budget was delayed due to the summerSA国际影视传媒檚 wildfire evacuation, which might also explain why it is thinner than previous budgets too. The list of capital projects in the 2024 budget is three pages, for example. By contrast, the 2023 budget document had dozens of pages related to capital spending with outlines of dollar amounts, project details and time frames for each initiative.
Abby Schelew, a communications advisor for the city, said the upcoming draft budget will include what it described as "brief explanations of proposed capital projects."
When asked what "brief explanations" meant. Stacia Kean, the manager for economic development and strategy for the city, provided a similar response to Schelew's and did not elaborate on what these explanations would entail.
"We are currently researching more efficient and easy ways of presenting information to council and the public for Budget 2026 and onwards," Kean added.
SA国际影视传媒 reached out to each city councillor to ask if residents could expect a more substantive budget and what they would like to see from it.
"The quality of a budget isn't determined by the number of pages - and in the city's case there is lots of opportunity to reduce page numbers and improve clarity," said Coun. Ryan Fequet.
Coun. Ben Hendriksen said he would not comment until the initial draft was presented to council, while Coun. Tom McLennan said he does know that some processes and presentation methods for the budget will change this year.
He is not sure on the specifics though, he added.
"The only hint I have is that it may be more like WhitehorseSA国际影视传媒檚 budget documents than Yellowknife budgets of the past, although I do not know this for sure," McLennan added.
McLennan said to keep an eye on upcoming Governance and Priorities Committee meetings.
"I heard this should be coming soon but I do not know which meeting exactly," he said.
The next committee meeting is on Oct. 15, according to the city's website.
"No fluff," said Coun. Steve Payne when asked what he wants to see from the next budget. "Just the essentials and what is needed. I think thatSA国际影视传媒檚 what [administration] will bring forward."
Coun. Garrett Cochrane said he's looking forward to what administration has in store, adding that he's looking for a more succinct budget and doesn't see a point in getting into the weeds of operations, as he put it.
Cochrane also said he would like to see stabilization with capital projects and give city manager Stephen Van Dine a chance to describe his plans with those projects, while keeping them as reasonable as possible for the public.
Coun. Rob Warburton said he does not have specifics on the upcoming budget and won't until it is presented to council.
"The budget descriptions last year, particularly of capital expenditures and their rationale, were less detailed than previous years due to compressed timelines," he said, noting the evacuation. "However I felt they still had the information needed for a in-depth budget discussion at council."
Earlier this year, the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce called out the city for its sparse information on their capital projects.
Adrian Bell, who was the president of the chamber when SA国际影视传媒 spoke to him back in February, said now knowing what the city has to say, the comments do not shock him.
He noted, however, that Van DIne is new to the job, so the ability to make changes for the next budget is probably impossible.
"It's nice to hear that they're proposing a least a brief explanation on their capital projects," said Bell. "That would be an improvement over last year."
Bell added he understands there's a case to be made with having too much fluff, so to speak.
"It could certainly be more concise," he said. "The devil is when people say say 'as long as all of the details are there.' I guess we're going to find out."
Ideally, what Bell is looking for, he said, is the city to return to its standard from two years ago.
"The proof will be in the pudding when we see that draft budget and see if it's adequately transparent," said Bell.
