Maybe due to new leadership, perhaps spurred on by FOIA issues,
Christiansburg Town Council has recently conducted two budget preparation
meetings which were open to the public.
When the legality of having the Mayor or council's Finance Committee meet
with other council members individually was called in question, the process
began to change.
In past years, the proposed budget was put together by staff and presented to
the full council at a May meeting. If there were related rate changes, a
subsequent public hearing in June was scheduled and the budget was generally
adopted at that meeting. Christiansburg's budget must be in place by the
beginning of its fiscal year, July 1 -- so this process has constrained both
council members and citizens from having a good grasp of services provides,
related costs, or what the various sources of revenue generate.
Public outcry may have followed, yet may have been muted because the
budget was already a done deal. Bad feelings may even have been
made worse by the fact that other local public bodies -- state, county, schools
and neighboring jurisdictions -- began their budget preparation processes much
earlier in the calendar year, providing numerous opportunities
for citizens to listen and comment.
This year, the town's budget process has begun to open up. The date of a Finance
Committee meeting made public, followed by a scheduled budget on May
3.
The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce adopted seven new
initiatives, including one focusing on becoming strong advocates for
retail and downtown development in both Blacksburg
and Christiansburg. Chamber staff attended the first ever budget work session,
and wasn't convinced discussions on the sources for increasing town
revenues supported their members best interests. With more time
and an open process, council should expect more input -- with many groups or
individuals challenging any increase in fees or tax rates.
The bottom line, however, will be that town council makes the decisions they
feel best serve all constituents -- residents and businesses -- while
encouraging high quality services provided by the fairest means.
Discussion on development and adoption of the FY 2008-2009 budget will
continue, and will continue to be open to the public, as noted below:
Christiansburg Town Council Meeting
Public Comment on the Proposed Budget
May 20, 2008, 7:30 pm
Town Council Chambers, Christiansburg
Christiansburg Town Council Meeting
Formal Budget Review and Vote
June 3, 2008, 7:30 pm
Town Council Chambers, Christiansburg