From the Mayors E-Memo 6/16/11
These are challenging economic times for all of us — families, businesses, governments. At the very moment when demand for many municipal services — parks, public safety, libraries, economic development — is rising, the resources we have to meet those demands are falling.
That’s the dilemma as we enter the City of Boise’s Fiscal Year 2012-2013 Budget process. Like families and businesses, we’ll need to make some tough choices. And we’ll need your help to do it.
The first opportunity comes next Tuesday evening, June 21, when the City Council and I accept public comment and answer questions about the budget at our regular weekly meeting. It begins at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers, third floor of City Hall.
We’ll get into more details during our three-day Budget Workshop, June 27 through 29. The City Council and I will hear reports from departments and provide direction on spending and program decisions. The workshop begins at 8:30 a.m. each day; it will be aired live on Treasure Valley Community Television CableOne Channel 98 and streamed online at www.cityofboise.org.
I’ll meet face-to-face with citizens regarding budget issues or any other aspect of city government at my next “Saturday Office Hours,” 9 a.m. to noon July 16 at City Hall. Visitors will be welcomed on a first-come basis and have up to 10 minutes each to meet with me.
Finally, the public hearing and vote on proposed user fee increases for 2012 will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 19; the final budget hearing will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16. Both meetings will be in the Council Chambers and will be aired and streamed live.
The Fiscal Year 2012-13 budget document will be available online on my homepage this Friday, June 17. Proposed fee changes and the proposed final budget will be available online the week prior to those hearings.
In addition to the opportunities detailed above, residents are always free to provide comment to the Mayor and Council via email at mayorandcouncil@cityofboise.org or via the Mayor’s Hotline at 208-384-4404.
Boise is a great city in part because we come together in tough times as well as good. I welcome your assistance as we get through the former and look ahead to the latter.
Until next time …