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Budget chair outlines schedule: Sept. 15 study session, Sept. 23 public Budget & Audit review, Oct. 6 first reading
Summary
Lakewood’s Budget & Audit chair reviewed the 2025 budget calendar, said staff will provide a redesigned dashboard and improved budget materials (ADA digital book, FTE detail, one‑pagers), and that the Budget & Audit board will welcome public comment during its Sept. 23 review.
Councilor Isabel Cruz, chair of the Budget & Audit Board, reviewed the upcoming budget calendar and planned materials improvements during the study session.
Key dates and process items: staff and the council will hold a joint study session on Sept. 15 to walk through the proposed budget; the Budget & Audit Board will meet on Sept. 23 at 5:30 p.m. to review and will accept public comment at that meeting; the first reading of the budget ordinance is scheduled for Oct. 6 and the second reading for Oct. 20. Councilors were advised that the Oct. 6 first reading is the primary opportunity to introduce amendments and that the Oct. 20 second reading ties up final items ahead of charter deadlines.
Staff described improvements for this year’s materials: a searchable, ADA‑compliant digital budget book; department one‑pagers for cross‑cutting goals (for example, homelessness and sustainability); and adding FTE counts to department operating summaries. The administration also said it will change its dashboard approach to avoid confusing status labels and will provide monthly city manager updates to council.
Councilors asked for more opportunities earlier in the process for policy input and suggested a mechanism to flag priorities for staff well before the budget is finalized. Staff said they will accept written feedback and will work to incorporate clearer summaries in the proposed budget materials.
The Budget & Audit chair encouraged councilors to provide written feedback ahead of the September meetings and said the board’s public meeting on Sept. 23 will be a key venue for community input before first reading.
