They may not be thrilling, but they’re sure important.
City departmental budget hearings continue this week, with representatives from numerous city departments on deck to present their spending plans for the coming fiscal year to the Sarno administration. While the public can’t ask questions or make comments—that’s left to the mayor and his finance team—the hearings are open to residents, and they’re a good opportunity to see how important budget decisions are made.
After the hearings, the administration will submit its fiscal 2015 budget to the City Council, which will hold its own hearings with department heads. Councilors can make cuts, but not additions, to the mayor’s budget.
The hearings are held at City Hall (Room 310) and at the Department of Public Works building at 70 Tapley St.—and yes, they are all scheduled during weekday hours, making it awfully hard for people who have traditional 9-to-5 jobs to attend.
This week’s schedule:
Monday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Parks and Facilities Management, at City Hall
Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Health and Human Services, Animal Control, Elder Affairs, City Library and Veterans Affairs, at City Hall
Wednesday, 2 to 4 p.m.: Fire, Police and Centralized Dispatch, at 70 Tapley St.
