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Councilors debate extending budget review timeline; staff outlines monthly department presentation option
Summary
Councilors questioned the current 40-day budget review window and discussed moving department-level presentations into October–November to give councilors more time to review. Staff said moving discussions earlier is feasible if council provides direction.
Leesburg Town Councilors debated whether the current budget review timeline gives them sufficient time to examine department budgets and performance measures.
Vice Mayor Simono Johnson said 40 days is not enough time for councilors with full-time jobs to review a complex municipal budget. “I don't think it's fair to our constituents to rush through a budget when we could do it much, much sooner,” Johnson said.
Staff presented an optional schedule that would spread department-level briefings across the year: beginning in April (and skipping August) under the draft plan, with departments presenting metrics, headcount, mission alignment, outcomes and any new funding requests in their assigned months. The staff overview noted the internal budget process is continuous and that the town currently kicks off council-level budgeting in January with the town manager’s proposed budget delivered in February and real estate tax-rate hearings by March.
Several councilors favored moving the monthly department presentations later in the year — into October and November — so the information would be fresher going into January–March budget decisions. Councilmember Steinberg and Mr. Wilt both supported the October timeline and suggested using existing work sessions or a special session if needed to allow sufficient time for director presentations.
The town manager said the county’s budget process is similarly timed and that more time does not automatically produce better results, but staff can shift the presentation timetable if the council provides clear direction about what it wants departments to present. The manager recommended staff return in coming meetings with a proposed schedule to ensure presentations meet council expectations.
Several councilors and staff agreed on the value of department-level performance metrics and a focused, earlier review; staff said they would prepare a draft schedule for council review. No formal vote was recorded.
