Another Borrowed Post By "On Your Side"

First of Two Public Hearings on Budget to Be Held Monday
By Terry E. Cohen, Council Member

Monday, May 12 is the first opportunity for the public to let its voice be heard on the upcoming fiscal year’s budget. At 6 p.m., in council chambers on the third floor of the Government Office Building, the first reading of the budget ordinance takes place FY09 Budget Ordinance, along with the public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget’s Constant Yield Tax Rate. Maryland law requires a public hearing to be held on this tax rate.

Please come express your concerns, ideas and questions to the mayor and city council about the state of the city’s finances. Are you concerned about the increase in city debt, now up to $2,888 for every man, woman and child residing in Salisbury? Do you have thoughts about the recent news about the water and sewer fund’s troubled outlook? Do you think the city is prioritizing its use of taxpayer money well? What would you change? What have been worthwhile expenditures to be continued?

Look at the Mayor’s Proposed FY09 Budget via the download links Councilwoman Campbell and I have provided at right on this website. Read other information about the budget that we have already posted. Check back here often for additional budget information.

at 9:01 PM
Revised Budget Meeting Schedule
More information will be forthcoming on this website about the Fiscal Year 2009 (FY09) Budget, so we hope you will check back often and encourage others to do so. In the meantime, the revised schedule of meetings appears below. All meetings take place in the Government Office Building downtown.

The first public hearing, which concerns the Budget’s Tax Rate (to be explained in more depth on this website later today), remains on its originally scheduled date, this Monday, May 12.

The second public hearing on the FY09 Budget has been rescheduled for May 21. Because this second hearing is on a Wednesday night, it will not be televised live on PAC14 due to schedule conflicts with other programming commitments. However, PAC14 has graciously consented to tape it for later broadcast.

It is possible that the council may schedule additional work sessions the week of June 2, but no dates have been scheduled yet. Here is the revised schedule as it stands today:

Mon., May 12, 6 p.m., Council Chambers
Regular Council Meeting
Public Hearing on Budget’s Constant Yield Tax Rate
1st Reading of FY09 Budget Ordinance

Tues., May 13, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Room 305
GASB 45 Other Post-employment Benefits
Personnel Requests
Tax Rate
Follow-up on Outstanding Issues

Tues., May 20, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., Room 305
Water and Sewer Fund
(This is an added-emphasis session due to the
presentation of the forecast to the council on
May 8 indicating possible severe rate increases.)

Wed., May 21, 6 p.m., Council Chambers
Public Hearing on FY09 Budget

Thurs., May 29, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., Room 305
General Discussion
Follow-up on Outstanding Issues

Mon., June 9, 6 p.m., Council Chambers
Regular Council Meeting
2nd Reading and Adoption of FY09 Budget Ordinance

We hope this information assists you in planning your needed participation in the development of the city’s budget for FY09.

Disclaimer
The views expressed in this newsletter are those of Councilwomen Campbell and Cohen solely and do not necessarily represent those of other council members.

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