The People’s Budget

Have a question about how the city’s budget process works? How about suggestions for the mayor or city council on what should be cut, or what should be preserved?

Mayor Pedro Segarra and council members are hosting a two-part budget workshop (called “The People’s Budget”) aimed at educating the public on the process and seeking input. They’ll be discussing the city’s 2013-14 budget. Segarra is expected to release his proposed budget for that fiscal year — which begins July 1 — on April 15.

The first session will be held Thursday at 6 p.m. at the city’s public library, 500 Main St. Segarra is expected to lay out his priorities and explain the budget adoption process and how residents can get involved. Attendees are encouraged to share what city services are important to them.

The second session will run from 12:30 to 5 p.m. on March 23 at Trinity College’s Mather Hall (on Summit Street south of the intersection with College Terrace). Attendees will have the opportunity to identify their budget priorities, prepare their own balanced city budget and present the budgets to the mayor. The workshop will be held in Mather Hall’s Washington Room.

Early projections show a $70 million deficit for 2013-14 and officials are considering various methods for offsetting it. Segarra has said his budget proposal will take into account the community’s needs and his commitments to education reform, park beautification and public safety.

To read more about the projections for next year’s budget, click here, here or here.