2023 County Budget released

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Budget presentations will be heard at our next two meetings March 29th and April 5th at 5PM, streamed live on Zoom and posted in full after. There is public comment available at the beginning and end of each meeting with any questions or thoughts you have about any topic, including the budget. As we hear budget presentations from the county manager and various department heads, we will be asking questions to delve into every aspect to understand any adjustments from one year to the next and new requested items. 

March 29th Meeting Link: ZOOM LINK:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85129908631?pwd=amtJTm5IOFBGYVFxck5qTnQ1cDZIUT09

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BUDGET PROCESS:

The county budget process involves county commissioners hearing budget presentations from the county manager and various department heads in late March and early April. Commissioners will take straw votes on each section of the budget prior to an official overall budget vote to give an idea of support and potential issues along the way.

After the commission passes the initial version of the budget, it then goes to the budget committee where there will be deliberations and a public hearing, likely in May. The budget committee is comprised of 3 members from each of the 5 commission districts, with two being elected municipal officials and one representing a member of the public. Members are selected at an annual caucus, typically held in April, where any elected municipal official in the county can vote on the selection. It can also have a non-voting member from the legislative delegation.

The committee then adopts its version of the budget and submits it back to the commission, who can either adopt it as is or modify it. If commissioners decide to modify the budget, it then goes back to the budget committee for final passage either by overriding the commission decision or agreeing with the changes made as the final step in the process. The budget must be adopted prior to the start of the new fiscal year starting July 1st.