The purpose of the budget process is to create and adopt an annual financial plan for the City.

Budget Schedule

Each year, a budget calendar outlining the schedule for the budget process is created. Preparation of the five-year forecast begins in October with the result presented to the Budget Committee in December or January. At this meeting, the Budget Committee may provide additional guidance for developing the upcoming fiscal year budget. City departments submit budgets during January and February for review and approval by the City Manager. In March and April, the City Manager's proposed budget is published and presented to the Budget Committee for review, citizen testimony, and public hearings. The Budget Committee sets the City's tax levy and recommends a budget to City Council in May. The process concludes in June with the City Council adoption of the fiscal budget, which is effective from July 1 through June 30.

Participate in a Budget Committee Meeting

There are several ways for you to get involved in the budget process. You can attend Budget Committee meetings, which are always open to the public. At any meeting you can sign up to testify about an agenda item or any other budget-related item not on the agenda. If you are unable to attend the meeting but would still like to contribute your perspective, written testimony can be sent to the Budget Office for review and consideration by the committee. To stay informed about what is happening with the Budget Committee, you can watch meetings on CCTV - channel 21, stream meetings in real-time, or watch a recorded version online. The first step to inform yourself about the City's budget can be as easy as viewing the City Manager's budget message and the financial summaries in the front of book one of the two volume publication.

How Would You Balance the Budget?

You can use our new budget simulation tool, Balancing Act, to share your opinion on what City services are most important and at what level the services should be provided. Do you think parks should be the City's top priority? How about emergency response? Business? Library?

Balancing Act starts with the 2023-24 General Fund forecast and lets you adjust the simulated City budget to increase or decrease programs and services. The simulation begins in a deficit, so you can consider reductions to existing City programs and services or the addition of revenue to balance the budget. The tool provides more context about each decision and guides you through the process. Each community member entry is like a response to a survey. A summary of the responses will be shared with the Budget Committee as they begin their work in April 2023. 

Your feedback can strengthen public involvement and improve the budget process. 

Apply to be a Budget Committee Member

Want to move from balancing the budget virtually to in real life? Consider applying to be on the Budget Committee! The Budget Committee is the fiscal planning advisory board to the City Council and is comprised of the Mayor, eight City Councilors, and nine appointed citizen members. The term for a citizen Budget Committee member is three years. Meetings are held on Wednesdays and require a commitment of six or seven evenings each year. You can view requirements for serving on the Budget Committee and apply for vacancies online.