FY 07-08 Budget Message

Although it didn't attract a lot of public attention, we had an important moment during this Monday's City Council Meeting--passage of the City budget for the next fiscal year!

The budget is a product of months of work, evaluation, and hard choices. It is a representation of the services we provide and a measure of new and renewed priorities each year. I invite you to take a look at my Budget Message to the City Council regarding this year's budget here or on the front page of our City website under Featured Items.

This document well summarizes the changes and adjustments made this year across the City. In addition to highlighting the new items in our budget, it provides a summary of financial accomplishments, regional cooperation, and financial information about the City. Among other financial accomplishments, we are very proud that the Government Finance Officer’s Association of the United States and Canada has voted to award our budget document the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the 2006-2007 fiscal year, the eighth
consecutive year receiving this honor.

The Budget Message also details new positions requested in the budget, new City initiatives (including a wellness program), information on our fund balance, an explanation of Road Use Tax fund distribution, and local economic/development activity highlights. It is my attempt to clearly illustrate how taxpayer funds are used without having to sift through a large budget document. I hope you will find it useful and informative.