Town of Ponoka

Citizens Invited to Fill Out Budget Survey; Attend Online Open House and Coffee with Council Events 

Ponoka residents are being invited to give their input and ideas on the 2025 Town of Ponoka Budget. 

The Town is hosting two Coffee with Council events over the coming months where citizens will have the opportunity to ask questions and share their ideas on the Town’s annual budget with members of Council. The first Coffee with Council event will be held on:

• Wednesday, June 5 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the new Off-Leash Dog Park Grand Opening Celebration at 5609 49 Street (on the east side of 49 Street, south of 57 Avenue)

The second Coffee with Council event will be held later in the summer (date to be announced).

Citizen Input Survey and Online Budget Open House 

The Town is also encouraging citizens to fill out the Citizen Input Survey, which invites residents to share their thoughts and suggestions on matters such as the top priorities they think are important for Town Council to consider in the upcoming budget, and key factors that contribute to the quality of life in Ponoka.

The Citizen Input Survey is available online at www.LetsTalkPonoka.ca as part of a virtual Budget Open House being hosted by the Town. The online Open House will give residents the opportunity to learn more about the budget planning process, how funds are allocated, and answers Frequently Asked Questions about the budget.

Let’s Talk Ponoka is the Town of Ponoka’s online public engagement site where you can find updates and share your ideas on various Town projects and initiatives to help guide decision making. To participate in the online Citizen Input Survey, citizens will be asked to register for the site by providing their email and postal code. That information is kept confidential and private. Registering helps ensure participants are real people and not bots, which helps validate the quality and reliability of the input being gathered.

Paper Copies of Survey Also Available

Paper copies of the Citizen Input Survey will be available at the Coffee with Council events and at the Town Office (200, 5604-50 Street), the Ponoka Aquaplex (5315 46 Avenue) and the Ponoka Arena Complex (4410 54 Street) during regular business hours. Completed surveys can be dropped off at those facilities or mailed to the Town of Ponoka at #200, 5604-50 St, Ponoka, AB, T4J 1G5, or they can be dropped in the drop box located just inside the west doors of the Ponoka Civic Centre.

The Citizen Input Survey will remain open to public input at these locations and online until Friday, August 30, 2024.

Public Consultation is a Key Part of the Budget Planning Process

“The annual public consultation process on the Town Budget is an important part of the Town’s ongoing commitment to inviting public participation in Council decision-making processes. Inviting public input allows Town Council to make more informed and thoughtful decisions that reflect what residents value most,” said Ponoka Mayor Kevin Ferguson.

Citizen input that is collected from the Citizen Input Survey and from public feedback received during the Coffee with Council events will be summarized and presented to Town Council for careful review and consideration during the 2025 Budget deliberation process. 

Town Council budget deliberations will be held in the fall (date to be announced). Budget deliberations are open to the public. A summary of the citizen input received will also be shared with the public at www.LetsTalkPonoka.ca.