‘20 for 2020’ -- This is NOT to reduce budgets for these three ministries, INSTEAD, it is to ensure what’s allocated provides BC residents the best services and education possible
Today's topic on “20
for 2020” is one that is occasionally heard – generally from individuals
and political parties who describe themselves as grassroots or populist -- but the
idea is often times dismissed as too much work.
That idea?? Bottom up
budgeting.
Given however that the
Ministry of Health consumes over $20 billion dollars each and every year (approximately
36+ percent of the provincial budget), and that amount continues to increase ...
... and that the Education
system (K to 12) has a budget of $6.355 billion ... and Advanced Education,
Skills, and Training has a budget of $2.212 billion ... they consume over 16+ percent of the
provincial budget ... an amount which also continues to grow annually.
Well over half of the BC
budget (many have stated it is in fact nearly 60%) is consumed by these three all
important ministries.
To do a complete bottom
up budget for each of these three would indeed consume much by way of time, and
likely ‘initial’ financial costs, therefore a schedule over multiple years
would likely be mor practical, and could be adjusted as needed:
For each of the six Health Authorities ... 1 per year
For each of the six Health Authorities ... 1 per year
For the provinces 60
school districts ... 10 districts per year
Advanced Education ...
every 3 years
Skills and Training ... every
3 years
Let me be clear, my
thought towards this is NOT to reduce the budgets of these three ministries, INSTEAD,
it is to ensure the highest portion of monies allocated provide BC residents
the best services and education possible.
This could
also give British Columbians a better understanding of staffing levels between
front-line workers (some would say too low) and administration (some would say
too high) – something which I also hear many questions about.
Regardless,
there you have it ... suggestion number 13 in our series of “20 for 2020”
is to provide bottom up budgeting for the Health and Education Ministries. Care to share any thoughts you may have on
this topic?? I’d be delighted to hear them.
Just a reminder that if
you have missed any of the previous ideas and suggestions, from “20 for
2020”, you can catch up at the following links:
#3 … there should be a full
review of all license costs and fees, which the provincial government has
imposed upon us, to see where and how they are being used
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