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Council sets amendment deadlines ahead of May 20 budget vote
Summary
Council leadership outlined three pathways and firm deadlines for submitting amendments to the mayor—s budget — including a CBO review deadline at 5 p.m. the day after the work session and a prefile deadline at 9 a.m. the following Monday — while reminding members amendments may still be offered on the dais May 20.
Council President opened the work session by outlining three formal pathways for councilors to submit amendments before the May 20 budget vote: (1) announce an amendment in a work session to alert colleagues; (2) submit language to the city budget office (CBO) for technical review; or (3) introduce an amendment from the dais on May 20.
The finance office urged councilors to use the CBO review to ensure language is technically accurate. The council president said the deadline to have CBO review an amendment is 5 p.m. the day after this work session; to have an amendment prefiled on the clerk—s website so it appears before the formal session, members must submit it by 9 a.m. on Monday the 19th. The council president warned that amendments offered from the dais on May 20 should be ready in writing, because colleagues will likely ask for them to be reduced to text before consideration.
Why it matters: the deadlines determine which amendments will receive staff technical review and be posted in advance for the public, which affects deliberations on May 20. Councilors also discussed how the finance committee may bundle amendments into a president—s package to help produce a balanced budget for the final vote.
How the paths work: submitting amendments to CBO by 5 p.m. guarantees a technical review; telling CBO that the amendment may be publicized also counts toward the prefile list. To have language prefiled and visible on the clerk—s site (allowing introduction by amendment number on the dais) submissions must reach Director Ruth Levine and Haley Blonsie by 9 a.m. Monday the 19th.
Councilors asked for clarity about how the finance committee—s conversation on Monday will interact with the full council—s amendment process. The finance chair explained the committee intends to review amendments that appear to have broad support and may recommend a packaged set of complementary amendments to help produce a balanced budget, while preserving each councilor—s ability to pursue individual amendments on May 20.
Process reminders and logistics: staff explained there are two amendment trackers: a budget-office tracker for private, technical work and a public tracker for amendments read into the record. The council president asked councilors who read amendments aloud to confirm with council operations staff that the tracker captured the text correctly.
What was not decided: the council reiterated that amendments may still be read into the record on May 20; such late amendments will not have guaranteed CBO review and may require on-the-spot changes to be workable.
