A Model for the School Board to Get Budget Input?

Mayor Dave issued the following message on how he hopes city residents can help shape Madison's next budget. I hope that the Board of Education uses a similar approach during the district's budgt process next spring.

Thanks to the combination of state levy limits and higher costs for providing City services (due to factors such as escalating fuel costs),the City of Madison faces a $4 million budget gap for 2006.

Closing this gap will force the City to make a number of tough choices.

As I work on developing my budget proposal, I want to hear from the public about what priorities we should set for scarce City resources.

To help get that input, I am holding a series of interactive "Build
Your Own Budget" forums this month. At these forums, participants will get to put themselves in my shoes, and balance the City budget through their chosen combination of spending cuts and revenue increases.

Background and worksheets will be provided to guide participants
through the budget process and outline various spending and revenue options to choose from. I will use the information gathered at these forums as I craft my executive budget for introduction in October.

The forums are all free and open to the public. The forum schedule is
listed below. I hope that you will take this unique opportunity to make your voice heard on how the City should set its priorities in the year to come.

"BUILD YOUR OWN BUDGET" FORUM SCHEDULE:

September 7, 6:30 p.m.: Mayor's Budget Workshop Alicia Ashman Branch
Library, 733 North High Point Road

September 14, 6:30 p.m.: Mayor's Budget Workshop Warner Park Community Recreation Center, 1625 Northport Drive

September 15, 6:30 p.m.: Mayor's Budget Workshop Catholic
Multicultural Center, 1862 Beld Street

Mayor Dave

Posted by Ed Blume at September 6, 2005 6:59 PM
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