Workshop Item: 3 - Joe Huss, Finance Director
Title
2014 BUDGET UPDATE - PRELIMINARY BUDGET
Background
As the budget moves toward the first major milestone in the adoption process - the adoption of a preliminary 2014 budget and tax levy at the first meeting in September - Finance staff and the City Manager continue to review and refine Department Heads' 2014 appropriation requests. These requests have been formulated using service level assumptions established over the last two years. At this point, appropriation requests exceed funding sources. That being the case, the next step will be for the Council to prioritize programs and services in order to bring appropriations within funding sources. And, while Council will adopt a preliminary tax levy on September 5th that cannot be increased, the preliminary budget adopted on that same date can be either increased or decreased as Council directs. Thus, the prioritization process could take place over the next several months before a final budget is adopted in December.
At the August 8th Workshop, staff will present for Council review and discussion, the proposed 2014 tax levy and General Fund budget as they currently stand.
Recommendation
Upon review of the proposed 2014 tax levy and General Fund budget, Staff is seeking Council direction regarding:
- The 2014 preliminary tax levy; and
- The 2014 General Fund budget.