Council splits budget preplanning into two sessions, reserving separate meeting for public safety

The Stafford City Council voted to split its budget preplanning process into two sessions: May 14, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., for all city departments except public safety, and May 28, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., dedicated to police and fire budget presentations.

Council members and public speakers said the split aimed to avoid having police and fire presentations consume the entire meeting and to give other departments adequate time to present five- or three-year planning documents. The finance committee chair told the council staff would provide a side-by-side comparison of what each department requested in the prior budget, what was approved and actual expenditures to make department presentations easier to evaluate.

Public commenters recommended multi-year budgeting and rotating targeted increases so departments can catch up on deferred needs. Councilmembers said department heads should prepare proposed multi-year plans and submit the requested and received figures to aid council review.

A motion to change the previously planned May 14 meeting scope and to add the May 28 public-safety preplanning meeting was moved and seconded; council voted in favor.