Montgomery County's budget process is published on its
website and begins in October. By March, the proposed budget is presented at a public meeting and is posted on the county's website. Numerous public meetings -- work sessions that drill down on the
what or
why or
how much at a departmental or functional level -- occurs during this time period.
A public hearing is held, followed by other work sessions which are conducted during public meetings. In mid-April the tax rate is set -- again with a public comment period -- and any final adjustments are then made (budget cuts, usually). Local government budgets must be adopted by the end of the fiscal year, June 30.
This process is typically replicated in every locality throughout the region -- Roanoke, Botetourt, Salem, Radford, Floyd, Blacksburg -- allowing both the General Assembly time to finish its state budget (and therefore finalize related local appropriations), while also providing plenty of opportunities for citizens to participate.
No so in Christiansburg, which has historically pulled council members in to the Mayor's office two-by-two -- a process which was the basis for a recent Freedom of Information Act (
FOIA) complaint by the
Roanoke Times.
When does the full council see the rollover (or starting) budget which is based on actual expenses to-date, with expenses projected through the end of the fiscal year? Have council members had this information made available to them, or the proposed fiscal year 2008-2009 budget? If so, why not in public?
Based on the above process, council's feedback or concerns are captured in the Mayor's office -- but until the proposed budget is presented to the full council, they don't have the full picture either.
How much time will council members have to review the proposed budget before being required to act upon it? A
public hearing has now been scheduled for Tuesday, May 20th, but it remains uncertain when the proposed budget will be available for council or citizen review.
How can citizens study the proposed budget and provide meaningful feedback on the spot, or with very limited response time?
No other local government places these constraints on its citizens for participating in budget development and oversight. Other local governments provide multiple occasions for public comment and for citizens to listen to how budget decisions are being made, or how balancing competing demands are juggled.
Should Christiansburg citizens assume their input is not desired, deemed unnecessary or considered as being uninformed? If because we're uninformed, whose responsibility is that? Councils.
In Christiansburg, which has had a website for nearly a decade, residents cannot look up last year's budget to get a feel for how information is presented or what the revenues sources are. And they are provided just one opportunity to learn about the proposed budget or comment before action will be taken.
The FOIA issue is more than how many members gathered constitutes a public meeting, that committees meetings are to be public, or when agendas, minutes and other public notices should have been published and made available to citizens.
Christiansburg may be noted by some for its rich history -- but this exclusionary approach to managing public monies and meetings shouldn't remain a part of its future.