A recent Hood River News article may have created the impression we already have a budget for 2007-2008, but that's not quite right. I'll describe the steps we use to produce a budget. They are mandated pretty explicitly by state law. All these steps are public, so you're welcome to watch us at work-- if my sausage metaphor hasn't scared you off.
Budget season starts in January, when the city council meets with the city staff to discuss the priorities for the year. Staff translates this into concrete plans. Our city manager then prepares a budget document, which includes not only the budget but a letter describing it. This document is presented to the budget committee (the 7 members of the city council plus seven other citizens appointed by the council).
That presentation kicks of the more formal part of the budget process. The budget committee meets to discuss and modify the budget. Our budget committee has met three times so far, and will meet weekly until it has a budget which gets at least 8 votes.
The budget committee sends its budget to the city council for approval. The city council can make changes-- within limits. Generally they cannot increase expenditures by more than 10% in any category, though they can cut. They must complete the process before July 1, when the new fiscal year begins.
When the city council approves the budget there are a few final steps, such as notifying the county about our property tax levy and sending copies to the state for their records.
Our budget committee will meet periodically after the budget is adopted to review progress. One of our budget committee members prepares a great monthly report so we can track income and expenditures all year long-- until the cycle starts again for the next fiscal year.
This is a site for my unofficial, personal reflections on Hood River politics. Although I am a member of the Hood River City Council, these opinions are entirely my own. I am not authorized to speak for the City of Hood River in any way. Check my first post for a complete list of disclaimers!
1 comment:
Hi Arthur -- Why aren't you blogging on here lately? I'm sure it's because you're way too busy with your new responsibilities, but it was really cool reading your past blogs and I hope you post more! I just read your last two blogs about people voicing concerns via online mediums rather than approaching policy makers directly; and your blog about how budgets become implemeted through integrated process. More to come? I hope so? Jamel
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