Budget meetings so far are running very smoothly but the meetings still take forever. So far we’ve had one citizen attend a budget meeting. If you want change, turn up at the public hearing Monday night at 7:30 and be heard.
Budget meetings so far are running very smoothly but the meetings still take forever. So far we’ve had one citizen attend a budget meeting. If you want change, turn up at the public hearing Monday night at 7:30 and be heard.
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March 5, 2008 at 7:52 am
One. Wow. BUT…
Honestly Andy, this process is so dry and obscure, citizens just don’t get excited about it. I know you’re busy, but maybe if you posted here on your blog what the impacts to daily life might be of each nights department meetings (face it, most don’t know how many depts there are or how most of them impact their lives), maybe that would help spur some interest.
Just a thought from having done this for many years.
Oh, and don’t think newspaper articles will stir up interest. A recent survey said only 10% of Americans get their news from print these days. I think the online number was like 62%, so you have a good way to reach out here!!!
March 5, 2008 at 8:02 am
Add a budget item paying for flowers at gay marriages between illegal aliens to be performed at City Hall. Then some citizens will show up.
March 5, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Yes, the budget can be dry until you remember the impact on the lives
of over 36,000 people.
One way to consider them is to examine “FY2009 City Manager Proposed
Budget – Real Estate Taxes per Household – Tax Rate $0.983,
Fire Rescue Levy – $0.10, Total = $1.083.
Average Single Family Detached House – Value $361,039.
Total Real Estate Tax = 3,901.05 per year.
Some componets: Schools ($2,158), Police ($457), Fire&Rescue ($207),
Shared Services with PWC ($184), Jail ($125), Pavillion ($12), Candy
Factory ($2), Recreation ($16), Museum ($31), Tourism ($12),
Economic Development ($47).
FYI: Budget meeting tonight 5:30 2nd floor conference room –
Manassas City Hall (will include a discussion of changes in the
Fire and Rescue Dept.) The public, as always, is invited.
March 5, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Schedule of City Council Budget Work Session:
5:30 – City Clerk’s Office
5:45 – Treasurer’s Office
6:00 – Commissioner of the Revenue’s Office
6:15 – Voter Registrar
6:30 – Information Technology Dept. and Fund
6:45 – Break
7:00 – City Council Work Session on Fire and Rescue Staffing Plan
(Meetings are in the 2nd Floor Conference Room at Manassas City Hall.
The public is welcome.)
March 6, 2008 at 12:15 pm
There will be a Manassas City Land Use and Economic Development
Committee – tonight (3-6-2008) in the 2nd floor City Hall conference
room at 5:30. The public is welcomed.
The first major agenda item is “Review of the Standard Operating
Procedure (SOP) for Staff Response to Overcrowding Compliants.”
March 6, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Thanks for posting this steve
March 6, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Thank you Councilman Randolph for the break down of the budget meeting on Wednesday. Any chance you can do this each week? Maybe interest could be generated for other citizens to attend, by showing us who will be showing up!
March 7, 2008 at 9:10 am
@watchdog:
The agendas for every night (and agenda packets) are posted on the City web site. Best way I’ve found to get them is via the Archive Center.
http://www.manassascity.org/Archive.asp
March 7, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Watchdog,
Will be glad to do that – the information may also be
found on the city web site.
March 8, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Thanks for the help David and Steve.