March 30th, 2011
Council to discuss budget policy at workshop

SUBMITTED REPORT

The San Marcos City Council will hold its annual budget policy workshop from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, April 1, at the Activity Center, 501 E. Hopkins, with a packet meeting at noon to review the April 5 agenda. The public is welcome to attend.

“The budget policy Workshop is our opportunity to lay the foundation for city services, expenditures and revenues for the 2011-2012 fiscal year,” said Mayor Daniel Guerrero. “This workshop is an important step in establishing the city council’s direction to staff on the budget, taking into account the economic realities that we face today and the outlook for the next several years.”

After its development at the workshop, the budget policy statement will be formally adopted by the city council at a regular meeting. The city council’s policy guides city staff in the building the proposed budget.

The budget policy statement includes goals for fund balances, revenues, including property tax and utility rates, and expenditures for the General Fund, Water/Wastewater Fund, and Electric Utility Fund. In addition, the policy covers revenue and spending direction on external programs and city council funding priorities.

The initiatives and the budget policy will guide the 2011-2012 budget process. City departments will develop budget proposals in the next few months for presentation to City Manager Jim Nuse who will propose the new budget to the city council in the summer.

The city council holds workshops and meetings on the budget in August and adopts the budget in September. The City’s budget year runs from October 1 to September 30 each year.

Because the Friday’s meeting will be held at the Activity Center, the session will not be televised. Tuesday’s regular meeting will be televised and video-streamed.