Duluth seeking budget review committee members

To ensure residents have confidence in the city’s financial health and practices and be provided full access to all financial data, Duluth will begin its 6th collaboration with the Citizen’s Budget Review Advisory Committee on March 8 for the Fiscal Year 2018 budget.

Past Citizen’s Budget Review Advisory Committees reflected a cross section of the population and provided helpful feedback and recommendations to Duluth’s mayor and city council. All four meetings take place 6 to 8 p.m. in March in Duluth’s City Hall Community Room.

The first meeting on March 8 establishes an overview of the city’s budget process and what the budget committee’s role will be in the process. All participants will be given the city’s current FY 2017 operating budget and 10-year forecast presentation. They are asked to study the material and be ready to discuss them at the next meeting.

The second meeting on March 15 involves review of draft figures for the preliminary FY 2018 budget, debt service commitments, city initiatives, as well as information relating to capital reserve funds.

The third meeting on March 22 provides time for questions and clarification of any items.

The fourth and final meeting on March 29 is geared toward recommendations from the citizen’s committee, addressing any concerns with the budget and finally discussion of visionary opportunities for the city.

After review of the city’s budget, financial commitments and city initiatives, recommendations of the Citizen’s Budget Review Advisory Committee will be presented to the city council on April 10.

Information: Kim Jackson at kjackson@duluthga.net or 770-497-5321.