LFP Council to adopt two-year budget on December 9

Lake Forest Park has been involved in an extensive process to develop a two-year (biennial) budget and the City Council expects to have a final budget for formal adoption on Thursday, December 9 at their regular meeting.

The process began immediately after the August election, where the levy lid lift proposed by the City Council failed. If it had succeeded, the Council could have increased the rate of property taxation above the 1% rise currently allowed.

The first step in the process was for Mayor Dave Hutchinson to propose a budget. He began by asking all departments to submit budgets reflecting a 10% cut. The Mayor's budget was submitted to the City Council, which held a series of public hearings and provided opportunities at the public comment section of council meetings for citizens to express their ideas and opinions about City expenditures.

On November 18, the Council, having approved a number of amendments, approved a "rough draft" version of the budget. It is now no longer "the Mayor's budget" but the "Council's budget. Amendments and discussions continue, but the process has moved to the next stage.

On Thursday, December 2, at the Council special meeting, and again on Thursday, December 9, at the Council regular meeting, the public can continue to make comments.

Following the close of comments at the December 9 meeting, the Council will finish their deliberations and adopt the 2011-2012 Budget.

Citizens who are unable to attend in person can send their comments to the City Council by email.