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~{~,,CASE # 4 SCHEDULE STAFF/COUNCIL FINANCE COMMITTEE WORK SESSION(S) ON THE PROPOSED 1997/1998 GENERAL FUND OPERATING BUDGET By: Jessie Hart, Finance Officer Background: Each year the Council adopts a budget calendar that outlines the processes, work sessions and meetings involving the preparation of the next years operating budgets. The actual budget process was handled a bit differently this year, in that we are attempting to prepare a two year budget for 1997 and 1998. Budget requests for both years were accumulated and reviewed by Staff, the City Administrator and me. As a result of those reviews and meetings yet to be held, recommendations for revisions to the original requests will be accumulated and incorporated into the document that will be presented and reviewed by the Council Finance Committee. The week of August 5-9, 1996 had been originally adopted in the budget calendar for the work sessions between Staff and the Council Finance Committee. It is anticipated that we will need approximately 6 to 8 hours to complete a detailed review of the requests and discuss potential revisions. This process could be accomplished in one full day or two evenings. This timing is necessary so that recommendations can be incorporated and a recommended level of property taxes be established so that the preliminary levy for 1997 can be approved either August 27, 1996 or September 10, 1996, and be certified to Anoka County by September 15, 1996. As an aside, most revenues certified by the State and Anoka County, that are necessary in determining adequate property tax levels, will not be available until early to mid-August and certain values used in calculating tax capacity are generally not available from the County until early September or later. Staff Recommendation: To accommodate varying schedules, Staff is recommending that two meetings be scheduled as follows: Monday Wednesday August5,1996 August7,1996 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. This allows for three hours [or more] for each review session. The schedules will be arranged so that individuals with several cost centers will only need to be at one of the meetings, although they would be welcomed at both. It is anticipated that with the recommended time table that pizza or some type of meal will be served/available to accommodate the dinner hour.