A public budget meeting is a formal council session where residents can provide input on the proposed municipal budget, typically required by provincial legislation before budgets are adopted. These meetings allow citizens to speak directly to council about spending priorities, concerns about tax increases, or service level preferences. Budget meetings usually occur after draft budgets are released, giving residents time to review proposals. Some municipalities hold multiple meetings across different neighbourhoods. Public budget meetings are part of democratic accountability, ensuring residents have opportunity to influence how their tax dollars are spent before final budget approval.