CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Conduct the Public Hearing for the Calendar Year 2018 Annual Operating Budget (Item 1 of 2)
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DEPARTMENT: Finance Department
SUBMITTED BY: Erik Hallgren, Financial Services Supervisor
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
Per state statute, a public hearing on the proposed Calendar Year 2018 Annual Budget will be held on December 5, 2017, at the City Council meeting prior to adoption of the ordinance. Once the hearing concludes, the budget may be revised and passed without further public inspection, notice or hearing.
The annual budget is the City's financial and operational plan and serves as the guide for the upcoming budget year. The process brings together input from elected officials, department directors, departmental staff and the public in order to shape the City's goals and objectives.
DISCUSSION:
Staff preparation for the budget began in August with departments developing and submitting their operating budget and capital improvement program (CIP) recommendations. Two rounds of reviews followed; first with the Finance Department and the other with the City Manager's Office. These assessments reviewed operational changes, discussed objectives and analyzed recommendations. Continuing again from last year, the opportunity existed for departments to observe, ask questions and provide ideas during other departments' budgetary reviews. This culture and philosophy of continuous improvement drove the process of identifying $12.6 million in initial operating and capital budget reductions during the 2018 budget process. These cuts spanned several categories, including personnel requests, building improvements, equipment purchases and deferred or delayed capital projects. These reductions were determined to still provide acceptable levels of service in accordance with the City's financial principles, Citizen Survey data and other guiding principles, including the City's ends policies. All changes made d...
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