Modified Zero Based Budget Abandoned in Windsor?

I'm generally not a conspiracy theorist, but when things start disappearing, it makes you wonder.

I visited the City of Windsor Budget page last night to download a report that previously had been posted there (2007 Budget Process Presentation made to City Council on June 20, 2006). Last week I had grabbed a copy of the 2007 Budget Process Timeline to review and I now wanted to read the report.

It's gone.

Then I noticed something else. All links and any mention of the Modified Zero Based Budget (MZBB) have been removed from the City website. I searched around, thinking that it had possibly been moved to another section. No luck. Thankfully, Google does such a wonderful job at caching content.

Here's how the "Starting at Zero" budget page used to look:

(Google Cache of "Starting at Zero Budget Page)

(click on image for full size)



Here's how the 2007 Budget Process Timeline page used to look:

(Google Cache of 2007 Budget Process Timeline page)

(click on image for full size)


I can understand the 2007 Budget Process Timeline document being removed if an updated document is being prepared, but why remove the presentation to City Council on the 20th of June?

If you look at the new City Budget page you'll notice that there no longer is a link to "Starting at Zero". This year was to be the final one in a three year phase in of the Modified Zero Based Budget. The old page states that "remaining 9 areas will be examined in the 2007 budget process". From the 2006 budget documents I found the listing of the 9 departments that were supposed to be the final ones in this process:

* Huron Lodge

* Finance

* Licensing & Enforcement

* Parks Recreation

* Hospitality & Corporate Facility Planning

* Public Works Operations

* Social Support Services

* Housing & Children’s Services

* Windsor Police Services

Have we abandoned the Modified Zero Based Budget? Was there an announcement of this that I missed?

The January 8th Council Minutes mention a budget update report that is unfortunately no longer available online. Further on in the minutes I found the details of a Council Resolution:

That City Council RECEIVE the 2007 Budget Process Update report dated December 19, 2006;

That Council APPROVE the funding of agencies in 2007 up to a maximum of 50% of the 2006 approved grant amounts as outlined in this report;

That Council APPROVE a hiring freeze that requires CAO/GM approval for the filling of all vacant positions until Council approves the 2007 budget;

That Council APPROVE that service levels in the 1st quarter of 2007 remain at status quo levels as approved in the 2006 budget and that no new initiatives be undertaken until Council approves the 2007 budget;

That Council APPROVE that a full Committee of Council with the Mayor as Chair review and deliberate the 2007 Budget.

Carried, Councillor Brister voting nay.

Again, no mention of the Modified Zero Based Budget. If anyone has a copy saved of the 2007 Budget Process Report Update, I would appreciate them emailing me a copy.