City leaders jump into budget process

City leaders have approved an outline to jump into the budget process for the upcoming 2011-2012 fiscal year.

An outline for drafting a budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2011, was approved at a recent meeting of the city council.

The outline calls on city departments and committees to submit budgets in the first week of March and brings city officials into the process at the end of the month. The outline calls for a hearing on the spending plan on June 7, with a June 21 meeting to approve the new budget.

The outline also schedules three budget work session for city council members.

City leaders adopted a $6.76 million budget last year, which held the line on taxes but increased water rates for residents.