It's Budget Time

Tomorrow evening (February 28) the City Manager will be presenting his budget for FY 2012-2013 (starting July 1, 2012) at the beginning of our City Council meeting (starts at 7:30 - a 1/2 hour later than usual). We are expecting that this is going to be one of the toughest budgets the City has ever faced. That said, I like to think that the Mayor and Council are up to the challenge of crafting a budget that is fiscally responsible and responsive to the needs of our community.

Your involvement is critical and in addition to the Mayor and Council members speaking with residents individually, the City is providing multiple opportunities to provide input and get feedback, which I certainly look forward to.

Below is information about the City budget from the City website. I'll post the budget highlights after it's presented to the community.

The city's annual budget is an important and revealing document. It reviews the city's financial state and details how the city plans to collect and spend money during the next fiscal year.

To facilitate public participation in the City of Fairfax annual budget process, the Mayor and City Council will hold meetings, work sessions and a public outreach meeting to discuss the issue and listen to public comments.

On February 28, City Manager Bob Sisson will present the city government's proposed budget for fiscal year 2012-13.

The budget, which reviews the city's financial state and details how the city plans to collect and spend money during the next fiscal year, will be discussed at:

• March 13 City Council meeting (presentations by the public on any item not on the agenda)
• March 14 City Council work session
• March 20 community outreach meeting and City Council work session
• March 27 City Council meeting (public hearing) and work session
• April 10 City Council meeting (public hearing) and work session
• April 26 City Council meeting (public hearing) — budget adoption

The public may address the City Council during the public hearings at City Council meetings. At work sessions, the public is invited to listen to the discussions, but there are no hearings during which the public may address the City Council.

Additionally, the City Council invites the public to offer their insights, ideas and opinions regarding the proposed budget at the community outreach meetings listed above.

The above meetings, work sessions and public outreach meetings will be held in the City Hall Annex. Most meetings are scheduled to begin at 7 pm .

These dates are subject to change, and additional meetings may be scheduled as needed.

The final budget will be adopted at the April 26 City Council meeting. (Please note that that date falls on a Thursday.)

The budget will be implemented July 1, which is the beginning of the city's fiscal year.

City Council meetings and work sessions are shown live and replayed on Cityscreen-12, the city's television station, available on the city's website and on cable television channel 12. Meetings and work sessions are shown live and replayed on television, and are available for Web viewing via videostreaming the following business day.

For information, or to request a copy of the proposed budget (available after February 28), visit the city's website or call 703-385-7864.