City Budget

Your City Budget: A Guide to Understanding the City's Fiscal Year 2021 to 2022 & Fiscal Year 2022 to 2023 Biennial Budget Process

Want to learn more about local government finances and how the budget process works? This page will guide you through the City's biennial (two year) budgeting process and provide you with a list of reference materials to help you expand your knowledge about municipal finances. The City Council will hold open meetings throughout the winter and spring, and the public is encouraged to participate. The budget process and reference materials are provided in the section under "Quick Links". The City's Finance Department is responsible for oversight of the City's financial assets and the fiscal year budget development process, based on direction from the City Council and City Manager.

The City's biennial budget serves as a blueprint for allocating the City's resources over the next two years. This page is intended to provide up-to-date information, materials and reports so that the community may better understand their public finances and participate in shaping our future. -Mayor Pauline Russo Cutter

Forecasting Our Future

One important facet to budgeting is preparing for future revenues and expenses. Understanding the services that a community needs and desires, as well as the funding available, will help the City Council guide those related decisions. For the recent presentation to the City Council on this topic, see the "Forecasting" links.

Capital Improvement Projects - Resources & Information

The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for the City represents the spending plan for infrastructure improvements and other specific large-scale capital purchases, such as major street or park improvements, building construction, and significant facility maintenance or upgrades. Early in the budget development process, staff assembles a CIP Committee comprised of department directors and the City Manager to assist in the review of CIP projects. The Engineering and Transportation Department provides direction and support. The purpose of the group is to collaborate on prospective CIP projects and recommend those closely aligned with the City Council's priorities. For a detailed review of the process and current projects, refer to the current FY adopted budget document provided in the Quick Links section of this page. Resources also located on the City's website provide further detailed information about the City' CIP projects.

Budget Process

Keep up-to-date and current during the upcoming budget process. Here you can find information related to the Biennial Fiscal Years 2020 to 2021 budget process and other financial information related to development of the budget.

Fiscal Year 2021 to 2022 Update Budget Calendar (PDF)

Community Budget Advisory Task Force

In the fall of 2020, the City Council established the Community Advisory Budget Task Force, a diverse 28-member body consisting of local residents, business owners, and City personnel. The objectives of the Task Force included:

• Developing an understanding of the City's budget and fiscal issues
• Provide input on community priorities and develop recommendations on fiscal and program strategies that ensure a balanced budget that reflects those priorities
• Make recommendations to enhance public understanding of the City budget and community input into the budget development process
• Make recommendations for the most efficient and effective reallocation of $1.7 million that was deducted from the Police Department budget
• Make recommendations to help achieve a long-term, sustainable budget through reducing expenditures and/or increasing revenues

The Community Advisory Budget Task Force presented its recommendations to the City Council on March 22, 2021 at 7 pm.

View Budget Documents.