Lake Forest Park budget process

The Mayor and the Budget Committee are in the process of reviewing the service cuts which will be proposed in the next biennial budget. The budget will include approximately 10% in reductions in 2011-12.

Among the discussion items are cuts to human service organizations, furloughs and city hall closure days, reducing court costs, permit and passport hours and staff, not filling the vacant police officer and significant reduction in parks maintenance, the elimination of the community services manager and the community and government affairs manager positions.

The budget process has three phases. In phase 1 the Mayor is developing a budget proposal.  The Mayor’s budget will be presented to the City Council on October 28.

In the second phase, prior to the delivery of the budget to the City Council, the Mayor is sharing his draft budget proposals with the Budget Committee. Two budget committee meetings have been held to discuss the preliminary budget issues, on Monday October 4, and Monday October 11.

The Thursday, October 14, Council regular meeting will include a budget discussion of the Planning and Building Department and the Municipal Services Department.  Public comments on any budget topic are welcome at all Council regular meetings. 

In the final phase of the budget process, the City Council will make amendments to the Mayor’s Proposed Budget and create a final budget document.

On Thursday, November 4, there will be a public hearing on the Mayor’s proposed budget.
 

On November 15, the Council Budget Committee will meet to make amendments to the Mayor’s Budget.  All are welcome to attend, and an opportunity will be provided for public comment and discussion.
The November 18, Council special meeting will include adoption of the ordinance setting the 2011 property tax and council action on the Council Budget Committee recommendations amending the Mayor’s proposed budget.  There will be a public comment period on the budget committee recommendations.   

The public hearing on the City Council’s proposed 2011-2012 biennial budget will be on Thursday, December 2, Council special meeting and continued to Thursday, December 9, Council regular meeting to provide additional opportunities for public comment.  The final hearing on December 9 will be the last opportunity for public comment prior to budget adoption.

The Council anticipates that the City Council 2011-2012 Budget will be adopted on Thursday, December 9, 2010.

Members of the public can email the City with comments and suggestions at cityhall@cityoflfp.com. 

 --LFP Staff and City Council