Chatham-Kent is looking at the possibility of implementing a multi-year budget process.
Councillor Carmen McGregor successfully entered a motion Monday night requesting that municipal staff investigate the pros and cons of the idea.
If adopted, it would mean that once a budget is approved, it covers several consecutive years instead of the standard one year.
McGregor said she believes the change would allow for economic advantages for multi-year infrastructure and operational purchases.
"I particularly noticed it going through the budget this year," she said. "There are other municipalities that are doing either two or four-year budgets... There's a lot of time and effort that goes into the budget."
McGregor said she's also optimistic a multi-year budget would allow some breathing room for new councillors to get more familiar with the municipality and the large impact that the budget has on its residents.
"The other side of it that has stuck out to me is to maybe try and remove some of the politics from the budget. When you first come on as a councillor and you're expected to pass this amazingly large budget of all areas of the municipality with actually no experience or understanding under your belt... it's a very difficult process to go through," she said.
The motion was approved unanimously. Councillor Mary Clare Latimer was vocal about her support for the council.
"I fully support Councillor McGregor's motion for multi-year budgeting. I think having a two to three-year budget would better support each council's strategic planning goals," said Latimer.
The practice is one that the City of London currently uses.
McGregor is asking that the information report comes back by August 10.
