My Side of the Fence

The danger isn't going too far. It's that we don't go far enough.

Budget? You want budget?

For all interested parties, here’s a schedule of all council budget work sessions:

Feb 25th 5:30 council chambers – presentation of City Managers budget

Feb 27th – 2nd floor – 5:30 Council budget work session

March 3rd – 2nd floor – 5:30 Council budget work session

March 5th – 2nd floor – 5:30 Council budget work session

March 10th – Chambers – 7:30 public hearing re: city managers proposed budget

March 12th – 2nd floor – 5:30 Council budget work session

March 26th – Public works – 5:30 Council budget work session

March 31st – 2nd floor – 5:30 Council budget work session

April 2nd – Public works – 5:30 Council budget work session w/ schools

April 7th – 2nd floor – 5:30 Council budget work session

April 14th – Council Chambers – 5:30 Presentation of Council proposed budget

April 21st – Council Chambers – 7:30 public hearing on Council proposed budget

April 23rd – 2nd floor – 5:30 Council budget work session

April 28th – Council Chambers – 5:30 First reading of FY09 Budget

April 30th – 2nd floor – 5:30 Special meeting about results from first reading.

9 Comments

  1. That is a lot of meetings.

  2. I would urge anyone who is considering running for Council next time around to attend all of these meetings…..

  3. While the Manassas City Manager’s proposed 2009 FY budget and CIP
    may not be the “perfect storm”, it could easily bring some rough
    weather and major turbulence.
    – The Richmond Rascals are in the process of cutting state aid to local
    jurisdictions, adding to a long list of unfunded mandates AND slicing
    established local taxing authority.
    – The housing market is sinking and taking property taxes, the major
    source of local revenue, with it.
    – The Manager will present his proposed budget this Monday at the
    regular meeting of the council – this will be followed by a four hour
    work session on Wed. night. (A finance committee – starting at 9:30 PM-
    follows that meeting) – that should get everyone started. Note: these
    are PUBLIC meetings – please attend it you can. Thanks to Andy
    for putting the information on his blog.

  4. Cutting the buget or keeping it to a certain inflation rate is a grand
    idea in the abstract, but difficult in the specific for local government. An
    example is item #18 in Monday night’s agenda – an “Authorization
    to Add Fire Positions to the Pay and Classification Plan” – It calls for
    the immediate addition of up to five paid fire fighters.
    In the agenda statement the manager notes our present staffing level,
    in his view, “poses a threat for injury or death, and property loss.”
    A troubling observation to say the least.
    A 2-20-2008 letter from President Pandolfi and Chief Ward isn’t
    nearly as dire, but notes the department’s need and appreciation
    for the new staff. “For the past 116 years, the Manassas Volunteer
    Fire Company Company has put the safety of the citizens of Manassas
    as the first priority …. we ask the City Council to look
    favorably on this request.”
    I’m sure there will be discussion, but even in a tight
    budget year, the City Council must support our public safety agencies
    at a level that ensures the continuation of quality services
    for our citizens.

  5. FYI: The agenda packet for Monday’s meeting is on the city
    website.

  6. Also note that Item #17 on Monday’s agenda is titled
    “Memorandum of Agreement between United States Immigration
    and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the City of Manassas
    Police Department”

    Staff Recommendation: “Staff recommends City Council authorize
    the Chief of Police to sign the 287(g) ICE Memorandum
    of Agreement on behalf of the City of Manassas.”

  7. It is good to hear of this agenda item for Monday’s council meeting. And equally as good that “staff recommends City Council authorize the Chief of Police to sign 287(g) ICE Memorandum of Agreement on behalf of the City of Manassas.” Our city has suffered as the result of the impact of illegal criminal population growing in the region.

  8. @Steve Randolph:
    “item #18 in Monday night’s agenda”

    Exactly WHY I mentioned in a comment a couple weeks ago the REAL CHALLENGES that will be faced regarding public safety this FY.

  9. that is a lot of meetings… how do handle the stress?

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