Budget deliberations are the council meetings where elected officials review, debate, and decide on the proposed municipal budget. During deliberations, councillors examine departmental budgets, question spending requests, propose amendments, and debate priorities. Deliberations may span multiple meetings over days or weeks for complex budgets. Public delegations often present during this period, advocating for or against specific items. The deliberation process allows councillors to shape the budget according to community priorities rather than simply approving administrative proposals. Media coverage of deliberations can inform citizens about the tradeoffs councillors face and the reasoning behind budget decisions.