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Budget advisory committee asks commissioners for itemized budget by May 5, schedules joint presentations
Summary
The Franklin County Budget Advisory Committee voted April 15 to request the county commissioners' itemized budget no later than May 5 and to hold joint department-head presentations in late May to inform the committee's May vote.
The Franklin County Budget Advisory Committee voted April 15 to ask the county commissioners to provide an itemized budget no later than May 5 and set a series of joint presentations with department heads so members can review spending requests before the committee's own May vote.
The committee's discussion centered on timing and process. Several members said hearing department heads and commissioners together would reduce duplicative questioning and improve the advisory committee's understanding of how the budget was built. One member noted prior experience in Farmington where multiple joint meetings improved outcomes.
"The Franklin County Commission self-submitted an itemized budget no later than 60 days before the end of the county's fiscal year," said Ben Fowler, who read aloud the statute language and cited his Farmington experience as a reason to pursue joint presentations.
Members debated whether the May 5 target was feasible: some voiced concern about the tight timeline and about meeting-notice requirements for public hearings; others said the committee could make a good-faith effort and accept a late submission if necessary. The motion to ask for the commissioners' itemized budget by May 5 passed by voice vote with members present confirming the motion passed.
The committee discussed logistics for presentations and tentatively targeted meeting dates in late May (members named May 21, 22, 23, 28 and 30 as options) and agreed to start sessions at 3 p.m. where possible. Staff and members noted the meetings would be available via Zoom and recorded by Mount Blue TV where facilities permitted.
The committee also authorized the administrator to consult the committee's attorney to clarify whether the statute requires the itemized budget to come specifically from the commissioners or whether department-submitted itemizations would satisfy the 60-day requirement.
Next steps: staff will attempt to coordinate department-head presentations for the last two weeks of May and will circulate schedules and materials in advance. The advisory committee plans to vote on its preliminary budget at a May meeting after those presentations.
