The city’s budget is complex, and yet provides little information. Each department budget has lots of moving parts, and in order to have it properly reviewed, the public needs to get involved! If you have a special interest, try looking at just the budget for the department involved! And then let them know what you think! The more eyes, the better the budget!
This is stolen directly from Satya Rhodes-Conway’s email to her neighborhood, but it covers all the details.
All –
Now that the Mayor has released both the capital and operating budgets, it’s time for you to share your opinion. The budgets can be found here. Even if all you do is read the news coverage and react to that, you should let me (district12@cityofmadison.com), the Mayor (mayor@cityofmadison.com) and the rest of the council (allalders@cityofmadison.com) know what you think. If you have time, you can come to the budget meetings as well. The next two meetings are briefings on the operating budget:
Board of Estimates Meetings: 2011 Operating Budget
Monday, October 11, 2010 at 4:30 p.m. – Room 260, MMB
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 4:30 p.m. – Room 260 MMBthese are when departments explain thier budgets and Alders ask questions. It can be very educational. All these meetings are on Madison City Channel as well (you can watch the archived Capital Budget Briefings, too).
Then you have a chance to testify:
Common Council Meeting: Public Hearing on 2011 Operating Budget
Tuesday, October 19, 2010Board of Estimates Meeting: 2011 Operating Budget Decisions
Monday, November 1, 2010 at 4:30 p.m. – Room 260, MMBCommon Council Meeting: Public Hearing on 2011 Operating Budget
Common Council Meeting: Board of Estimates Report on 2011 Operating Budget
Tuesday, November 9, 2010You should let us know what you think before this date, since the only way we can change the budget is via an amendment:
Common Council Amendments due to Comptroller on Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at 12 noon.
Then you can come tesitfy again:
Common Council 2011 Budget Meetings
Tuesday, November 16 at 5:30 p.m. Room 201, CCB
Wednesday, November 17 at 5:30 p.m. Room 201, CCB (if needed)
Thursday, November 18 at 5:30 p.m. Room 201, CCB (if needed)Of course, you can call or email at any time. I look forward to hearing what you think.
Thanks
Satya
Of course, if you do nothing but react to the news, please read this first! Don’t believe the hype! The spin on the budget is more than a little off. And that is why your eyes are needed!
