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City ranking for financial reporting/transparency drops Francofun Festival
Bill Phillips editor@pgfreepress.com
dies near Mt. Milligan
Just how well is the city doing in terms of financial performance and transparency? According to a report from the Frontier Centre for Public Policy, not that well. Prince George ranked 57th out of the nation’s largest 100 cities examined by the group, down from its 38th place ranking two years ago. The centre scored communities in 10 areas – timeliness of audit opinion, receipt of accounting award, additional commentary and statistics, capital assets reported, capital assets depreciated/funded, goods/ contracted services separate, depreciation recorded, expenditure line items defined, and historical trend statistics given. Prince George scored 23 out of 33 possible points. The city, however, has been improving on the scale, scoring 19 out of 33 in 2009, 20 in 2010, and 22 in 2011. “It’s important for the city to improve the accessibility of information we have,” said Mayor Shari Green, pointing out the city’s financial information is readily available on the main page of the city’s website, although she agreed that it isn’t always easy to find. She also questioned some of the methodology of the Frontier Centre for Public Policy report, noting that communities are scored on whether they have won an accounting award, something out of control of the city. “Some of the areas that are critical to people, we did our best in,” Green said, noting the city scored eight out of a possible eight points in capital assets reported. The city scored zero out of two for historical trend statistics. Green said, however, that information is on the website, it’s just not that easy to find. Green added that video of budget meetings going back a few years is also on the website. In addition, finance meetings are open to the public and members of the public are actually attending. “Certainly, in terms of transparency, we are always looking for ways to increase that,” Green said. “The question is how are we presenting the data and how easy is it for people to find it. It’s all there, it’s just a matter of having a website that’s pretty functional.” Last year council turned down a motion put forward by Coun. Brian Skakun and Coun. Garth Frizzell to post all expenditures on the council agenda, breaking them down into categories. It was rejected due to the extra staff time it would require.
Phone 250-563-6444 Toll Free 1-800-219-6327 910 Third Avenue, Prince George, BC Email polarrefrig@telus.net polarrefrig.ca
P.G. truck driver RCMP were called to a report of a logging truck driver in medical distress on the morning of Feb. 5. RCMP, ambulance and Mount Milligan first aid attended a logging truck stopped on the Rainbow Forest Service Road, north of Fort St. James. The driver had reportedly pulled off at around 18 km on the forest service road and was suffering from a possible heart attack or some sort of medical distress. The male driver from Prince George had passed away at the scene before police arrived. RCMP did not believe the death to be suspicious and referred the matter to the B.C. Coroner’s Service.
Province appeals teacher ruling The B.C. government will appeal a B.C. Supreme Court ruling ordering a return to 2002 classroom rules, Education Minister Peter Fassbender announced Tuesday. Fassbender said the latest ruling could potentially cost the B.C. government more than $1 billion, which he called “completely unaffordable for taxpayers.” But the appeal will focus on Justice Susan Griffin’s interpretation of constitutional rights in union negotiations.
INSIDE TODAY: Voices..........................................P9 Community...............................P13 Classifieds.................................P18 Careers.....................................P20 Teresa MALLAM/Free Press Mariama Tounkara helps Hannah Patterson, 2, to keep a safe hand on the end of the saw during a crosscut sawing event Saturday at Francofun Winter Festival. The 29th Festival D’Hiver included outdoor and indoor games and activities for all ages.
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