Suggested process for budget adoption
Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2015 11:31 am
Colleagues,
I apologize that I missed the tail end of yesterday's meeting and thus our brief discussion about next week's process.
I'd like to suggest that we at least consider the budget adoption process which has been used for the last 2 or so years as it seemed to keep the discussion moving forward in a smooth and fair manner.
Council Members submitted their proposed amendments in advance of the meeting so that staff could compile as many as possible into one list, and the Council had an evening to review. A few amendments did also come from the floor, and I believe it's important to preserve that flexibility to respond to the Council discussion, staff information, etc.
We began with a motion and a second to approve the City Manager's proposed budget inclusive of any amendments offered by staff.
We then began a series of amendments, starting with those related to (1) budget cuts and (2) increases in revenue. [This format allowed us to see how much we were able to save in the proposed budget prior to voting on any potential increases in spending.]
We used a "round robin" format, in which each Council Member and the Mayor had an opportunity to propose one amendment. If the amendment was not opposed by any one Council Member, the amendment was added to the main motion -- and we moved on to the next Council Member. A vote was taken on any items opposed by one or more Council Members. Items receiving a simple majority vote were added to the main motion.
Once all Council amendments had been considered (usually over the course of at least two days), we took a final vote on the main motion to adopt the budget.
**Council Members did not need to move forward just those amendments they had proposed; instead, they used their turns to prioritize any matter listed (or not) on the Proposed Budget Amendments document.
Our financial staff kept a running tally of the amendments so that Council always knew where we were in terms of having a balanced budget.
On a few occasions, we went back later in the day or on the next day and re-voted on something if there was new information, a change of heart, or a financial need to revisit an issue. But mostly the process kept us moving forward pretty efficiently.
I know there are multiple other formats we can use that would be successful, but I thought it important to offer this process for discussion and consideration.
It would be great to have a sense of what process we *might* use before we head into the three-day weekend.
I welcome your thoughts.
Best,
Kathie Tovo
Mayor Pro Tem
Council Member District 9
I apologize that I missed the tail end of yesterday's meeting and thus our brief discussion about next week's process.
I'd like to suggest that we at least consider the budget adoption process which has been used for the last 2 or so years as it seemed to keep the discussion moving forward in a smooth and fair manner.
Council Members submitted their proposed amendments in advance of the meeting so that staff could compile as many as possible into one list, and the Council had an evening to review. A few amendments did also come from the floor, and I believe it's important to preserve that flexibility to respond to the Council discussion, staff information, etc.
We began with a motion and a second to approve the City Manager's proposed budget inclusive of any amendments offered by staff.
We then began a series of amendments, starting with those related to (1) budget cuts and (2) increases in revenue. [This format allowed us to see how much we were able to save in the proposed budget prior to voting on any potential increases in spending.]
We used a "round robin" format, in which each Council Member and the Mayor had an opportunity to propose one amendment. If the amendment was not opposed by any one Council Member, the amendment was added to the main motion -- and we moved on to the next Council Member. A vote was taken on any items opposed by one or more Council Members. Items receiving a simple majority vote were added to the main motion.
Once all Council amendments had been considered (usually over the course of at least two days), we took a final vote on the main motion to adopt the budget.
**Council Members did not need to move forward just those amendments they had proposed; instead, they used their turns to prioritize any matter listed (or not) on the Proposed Budget Amendments document.
Our financial staff kept a running tally of the amendments so that Council always knew where we were in terms of having a balanced budget.
On a few occasions, we went back later in the day or on the next day and re-voted on something if there was new information, a change of heart, or a financial need to revisit an issue. But mostly the process kept us moving forward pretty efficiently.
I know there are multiple other formats we can use that would be successful, but I thought it important to offer this process for discussion and consideration.
It would be great to have a sense of what process we *might* use before we head into the three-day weekend.
I welcome your thoughts.
Best,
Kathie Tovo
Mayor Pro Tem
Council Member District 9