Budget process beginning with workshop today

This afternoon, the San Marcos City Council will begin the months-long process of preparing the city’s Fiscal Year 2019-2020 budget. Council will hold its budget policy workshop, which is meant to establish the framework for the city’s budget process, at 4 p.m. The agenda for the meeting notes that the budget policy workshop is the “first step in the process which culminates with the adoption of the budget in September.”

As part of the city budget process, council will formulate a policy statement meant to guide the city manager during budget preparation. There will be a work session in May and a workshop in June before the council receives the proposed budget in August. Public hearings on the budget will take place in September before council votes on adoption. 

As part of the workshop meeting today, council will hear a presentation covering numerous factors, including economic indicators, the city’s strategic initiatives for the fiscal year, initiatives that are under way, and policy considerations. Among the policy considerations are the drive to increase the live outcome rate at the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter, merit raises for some staff members and the city’s parking management program. 

City council will meet in the council chambers at City Hall, 630 E. Hopkins St. Meetings are televised live on Spectrum Ch. 10 and Grande Ch. 16 or 123-16 and streamed online.