MidlandToday welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected] or via the website. Please include your full name, daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). The following letter is in response to an article about the Tiny Township budget, published Sept. 22.
In the article, there were many key issues raised, but it did not bring to light the harmful impact.
As we approach the upcoming budget discussions on Dec. 2, 3 and 4, the lack of structured resident input becomes a sincere concern. While Mayor Dave Evans has encouraged residents to provide feedback through phone calls, emails, and in-person deputations, the 2024 budget was only 16 questions in length. The results were a 142-page document filled with comments on specific topics.
The absence of a 2025 budget survey limits organized community engagement. The township has cited staffing shortages as the reason for not conducting the survey, but this has led to broader concerns about whether the township is creating a toxic environment, making it hard to retain staff and further restricting residents’ opportunities for involvement.
This council has fostered a conflict-ridden community. During the town hall meeting in Wyebridge on Oct. 19, 2023, Coun. Steffen Walma acknowledged that the results of the 2024 survey were easily manipulated and could not be taken at face value. He noted that of the 320 responses, only three expressed interest in a new township hall, implying that more information was needed from other residents, not to mention the 90 residents in the room. This leaves concerned residents feeling frustrated — when they take the time to respond to surveys or attend meetings only to find that their input is disregarded, it fuels disillusionment and skepticism.
In the 2024 budget process, residents were not even allowed to ask questions, raising further doubts about whether feedback will be taken seriously in future discussions. At the first budget meeting in December 2023, Coun. Walma remarked, “We didn’t cut anything, only added to the budget,” followed by a chuckle — a comment many found disrespectful.
Mayor Evans has also indicated that deputations may be limited, which reflects the broader issue of how residents are being shut out of meaningful participation. Back in March 2023, councill changed the deputation process, making it harder for residents to be heard, further escalating frustrations.
Emails and phone calls are still accepted, but there are questions about how effectively this feedback will be tracked and incorporated into decisions. For example, Tim Leitch, director of public works, noted that the township received 1,300 emails regarding the new administrative centre, yet the Stop the Build Tiny group claims that 900 of those emails expressed opposition to the project. Despite this significant feedback, residents are still waiting for a transparent explanation from the township about the contents of these emails and the overall sentiment.
This raises the critical question: Will residents’ input genuinely influence the final budget, or will it once again be disregarded?
As taxpayers, we must hold our council accountable for protecting our essential freedoms, and the absence of a budget survey is particularly troubling for several reasons:
- Lack of resident engagement: A budget survey gives residents a direct channel to express their priorities and concerns to local officials. Without one, the municipality misses a vital opportunity to gauge public opinion and involve citizens in the decision-making process.
- Transparency issues: Surveys provide a transparent way to collect resident feedback. By not conducting one, the municipality risks appearing as if it is avoiding accountability or disregarding the views of its residents.
- Failure to reflect community needs: Municipal budgets impact services, infrastructure, and taxes. Without structured feedback from a survey, the budget might not align with the community’s needs and preferences, potentially leading to decisions that could negatively affect residents.
- Erosion of trust: When municipalities fail to seek input on key issues like budget planning, it can undermine the trust between residents and the local government. This can lead to a sense of disenfranchisement, where people feel their voices are not valued, resulting in disengagement or opposition.
- Reduced inclusivity: A budget survey promotes wider participation, especially for those unable to attend council meetings. Without this tool, the budget process becomes less inclusive, potentially marginalizing certain groups of residents.
In summary, a budget survey is critical for fostering communication, ensuring transparency, and aligning municipal decisions with the community’s interests.
Janet Lynn Marks
Tiny Township
