Fiscal Note
No appropriation required.
Title
AMENDED SUBSTITUTE - Establishing rules and procedures for Common Council deliberation on the City of Madison's 2009 Capital and Operating Budgets.
Body
WHEREAS, The President's Workgroup on budget process improvement met three times between May and July 2008 and its recommendations have been categorized into two groups; a set of short-term solutions that can be implemented in time for this year's (2009) budgeting cycle, and longer-term objectives for next year and beyond; and
WHEREAS, The recommendations for this year are:
* A better working room environment for Board of Estimates budget hearings. This includes issues such as ensuring enough space for the public, Board of Estimates members and for other Alders and ensuring a good PA system is available so that everyone can hear. Ideally the meetings will be held in the Council Chambers if available.
* Encouraging all Alders to attend and utilize the Board of Estimates meetings and process. This includes the presentations by department heads and the amendment deliberations. The idea is to operate the meetings somewhat like a committee of the whole, though they will still legally operate as Board of Estimates. Snacks and other incentives will be provided.
* Providing information on agency requests to Alders earlier. (This has already begun with the capital budget.)
* Moving up the amendment due dates to Thursday instead of Friday. That will give Board of Estimates members and all Alders an additional day to study and digest them before votes are taken, and;
WHEREAS, Some of the recommendations to be considered for future years include:
* Increasing public involvement with the budget process
* Moving up introduction dates in order to give everyone more time to study. (This could have negative consequences, as not all information needed to create an accurate budget may be available in time.)
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council hereby establishes the following rules and procedures for the deliberation of the 2009 Executive Operating and Capital Budgets as amended by the Board of Estimates:
1) All proposed amendments to be reviewed and distributed in advance of the Common Council meeting must be submitted to the Comptroller's Office (Room 406 City-County Building) no later than 12:00 noon on Tuesday, November 4, 2008. The Comptroller's Office staff will prepare fiscal notes and distribute a list of the proposed amendments by Thursday, November 6, 2008 at 12:00 noon.
2) In the case of amendments from the floor of the Council, members may consider an amendment to a proposed amendment as well as other amendments that are written and distributed to Council members.
3) Proposed amendments must have two sponsors to be considered by the Council.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the above rules shall be in effect for the deliberation of the 2009 Capital and Operating Budgets on Tuesday, November 11, 2008, and on November 12 and 13, if meetings are held.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that any rules or procedures that are inconsistent with the above rules are suspended for these meetings pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.34 of the Madison General Ordinances.
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EDITOR'S NOTE: The attached 2009 Budget Calendar identifies the proposed schedule for consideration of the 2009 Budget, including the dates for Public Hearings before the Common Council.