Charter review committee weighs changes to Chapter 10 deadlines, budget calendar and audit timing

East Lansing—9s Charter Review Committee spent the bulk of its Jan. 19 meeting reviewing proposed edits to Chapter 10 that would give the city more flexibility in how and when it prepares and publishes its annual budget and financial reports.

The changes, presented by Owen Valley, budget and accounting analyst in the city—9s finance department, would (1) let the city manager publish a yearly budget process calendar, (2) replace the charter—9s current reference to the "first regular meeting of the City Council in April" with a clearer deadline (including a proposed April 15), or (3) let the city manager set the submission deadline in the charter. Valley described those three alternatives during the meeting: "Alternative number 1, the charter could propose that the city manager adopt a budget process calendar annually..." and said the alternatives aim to remove scheduling pressure on departments.

Why it matters: Committee members said the current charter language can force a compressed review process when the council—9s meeting calendar places the first April meeting early in the month. That compression can create last-minute work…