The meetings — which the county is framing as an effort to be transparent following a 2017 resolution promising more sunlight on the budgeting process — will be held throughout October on a variety of different governmental services areas. They will also review the standing 2019 budget as well as cover the county's financial outlook and spending needs going into the 2020 budgeting process starting in November. The public is encouraged to attend and weigh in through public comment.
Last year, the commissioners unanimously approved a balanced $790 million budget for 2019. In recent years, the county has grappled with substantial financial issues: Officials grappled with a roughly $10 million shortfall going into 2018. A broad 7 percent cut across all county departments was originally pitched to make up the deficit before the board opted for raiding road funds.
All of next month's meetings will be held in the commission's hearing room at 1026 W. Broadway Ave. Here are the specifics:
- Countywide Budget, General Fund, Property Valuation, and Taxation
October 1 at 5:30 pm - Law and Justice
October 8 at 5:30 pm - Roads, Environmental Services, and Human Services
October 22 at 5:30 pm
