Danville City Council will meet Tuesday night, March 25, to continue its review of a draft version of the city’s budget for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.
The process includes a department-by-department review. Scheduled for review Tuesday night are the parks and recreation, police, fire and economic development departments.
Following these departmental reviews, City Council will discuss final changes to the working draft of the budget.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m., and it will be held in the fourth floor conference room at the Municipal Building on Patton Street.
Earlier this month, City Manager Joe King presented to City Council an initial version of the city’s budget for the next fiscal year. This working draft maintains services, programs and facilities at current levels. The current real estate tax rate of 73 cents per $100 is maintained, and no fee increases are proposed. Use of cash reserves and moderate increases in debt financing make it possible to balance the budget.
The city’s charter requires the city manager to present a recommended budget to City Council by April 1. Following that presentation, the charter requires the city manager and City Council to work together in modifying the budget into a formal version for presentation to the public no later than April 30.
King made his recommendations early to enable City Council to undertake a more extensive review of the budget. Toward that goal, City Council is meeting every Tuesday evening this month for budget reviews. Last week, City Council reviewed budget drafts for the city manager and city attorney offices, and finance, human resources and utilities departments.
Since King’s initial presentation, City Council has reviewed departmental budgets from public works, information technology, transportation, and community development. Constitutional and judicial office budgets also have been reviewed.
Public hearings will be scheduled later in the budget process. Final adoption must take place no later than June 30. The final budget will serve as a blueprint for city operations from July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2015.