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Committee previews streamlined 2025 budget narrative and schedule; staff sets rules for required explanations
Summary
Staff previewed a condensed 2025 budget narrative template focusing on change, adding photos, 3–5 responsibility bullets, color-coded budget changes, and a disclosure threshold: any change over 5% and $5,000 must be explained. The committee agreed on schedule for October–November review and public hearing logistics.
WAUWATOSA — Finance and communications staff presented a revised template for the 2025 city budget narrative and a proposed schedule for October–November committee and council review.
Staff said the new template aims to be brief and focused on year‑to‑year changes rather than extensive background material. Changes include the option to add a photo to department narratives, a short (3–5 bullet) responsibilities section, preserved performance measures, concise next-year goals and color-coded budget changes (light blue for current-year reestimates and gray for next‑year adjustments).
The committee established a disclosure threshold: departments should explain any change that exceeds 5% and $5,000 in the significant changes section of the narrative. Staff used examples — such as a reported 14.8% wage increase (roughly $170,000) and a large drop in grant revenue for the health department — to show what will require explanation.
Members stressed the importance of readability and transparency; staff said they will provide supporting detail to alderpersons during executive review and that department representatives will answer questions at committee meetings. Staff also reviewed the proposed calendar: an initial budget overview the evening of Oct. 1 (either Committee of the Whole or Financial Affairs), department presentations on Oct. 8 and 15, a possible council night Oct. 22, and final adoption steps in November, with the public hearing to take place before financial affairs to ensure at least two weeks of public notice before adoption.
Committee members responded positively to the streamlined approach and emphasized that departmental changes that meet the disclosure threshold must include clear explanations in the narrative.
