In both our personal and professional life, we must work within the constraints of a budget. Costs go up. Unexpected expenses occur. Money must be set aside for contingencies and long term plans. Our plans must adjust to compensate for gains and losses.
A city’s budget is really not much different than a household or business budget. Setting the City of Carlsbad’s annual operating and capital budgets carries the same challenges of rising prices and unanticipated costs. The difference is that the City looks to community members to play a crucial role in the budget process by offering input, which helps city staff, the Mayor and Council to make tough decisions.
From about mid-March to mid-June, the City of Carlsbad’s budget process is underway and the time to be heard is now. Lisa Hildabrand, Finance Director, urges citizens to become more informed about budget matters. “We would like citizens to learn how a city is financed. You can help us to provide solutions. And let us know what priorities you have. City staff doesn’t always have the answers. It’s helpful to have someone else looking at the issues, too.”
Hildabrand says it’s important for citizens to realize that not all sales taxes or property taxes paid in Carlsbad go to the city. The majority of these taxes go to fund State programs and to the school systems. Also, funds are often designated for specific expenses or projects, leaving less flexibility in spending.
Among the greatest challenges in the coming year are decisions about capital improvement projects, which take up the single largest share of the budget. Hildabrand says large projects such as the golf course, swimming pool complex, and police shooting range civic buildings are facing rising costs in construction due to industry increases in the cost of building materials. In some cases, the increases are as much as 20 percent.
And, the cost of building a project is not the only consideration the City takes into account when the decisions are made to construct a facility. Factoring in ongoing operational costs is critical to sound fiscal management, says Hildabrand.
“Construction of a new facility might be feasible, but can the City be assured funds will be in place to also pay utility costs, buy equipment, and hire the staff to run it? Some cities build facilities, figuring they will find the money later for operations. In some cases the facilities may not open for a long time. “You have to maintain a facility, even if you can’t afford to open or run it. Meanwhile, buildings are deteriorating and depreciating. It’s not a good idea,” adds Hildabrand.
Hildabrand says city staff, the Mayor and Council really wants to hear from citizens. “Tell us how the city is running,” said Hildabrand. “Offer positive as well as negative. For example, if you think the fire department is doing a good job, or a park opens and it is really appreciated – let us know. This way we can improve the services we give to the community, and keep focused on priorities” she says.
Hildabrand says a clear understanding of budget matters will also help citizens make tough voting decisions. “The more citizens understand how a city is financed, the more prepared they will be to make decisions when measures come before them on the ballot to increase taxes. They'll be able to make an informed decision as to why a tax increase may be necessary or not," explains Hildabrand.
She adds that citizen participation will carry more weight when you've done your homework and prepared a solid foundation for your input.
"Get involved. Get educated," urges Hildabrand. "It's hard to make an impact if you don't have all the facts. If you come in prepared, you are more likely to get at least some of what you want," she said.
Hildabrand says she realizes that it's difficult for people to find time to participate. She says the City of Carlsbad does its best to make information accessible, including live and repeat television broadcasts of budget workshops and council meetings on Adelphia Cablevision Channel 3. Copies of the videos of the Council meetings are available at the Carlsbad Library locations.
Preliminary budget documents are now available in all Carlsbad library locations, and, at the city's Faraday Center.
An Operating Budget Workshop council meeting takes place on June 7, and a Citizens Budget Workshop takes place June 15th, at 5 p.m., Faraday Center. The City Council will adopt the final operating and capital budgets at its meeting on June 21.
For more information, visit the city's Web site at www.ci.carlsbad.ca.us.
Denise Walker Vedder,
Communications Manager
City of Carlsbad
A city’s budget is really not much different than a household or business budget. Setting the City of Carlsbad’s annual operating and capital budgets carries the same challenges of rising prices and unanticipated costs. The difference is that the City looks to community members to play a crucial role in the budget process by offering input, which helps city staff, the Mayor and Council to make tough decisions.
From about mid-March to mid-June, the City of Carlsbad’s budget process is underway and the time to be heard is now. Lisa Hildabrand, Finance Director, urges citizens to become more informed about budget matters. “We would like citizens to learn how a city is financed. You can help us to provide solutions. And let us know what priorities you have. City staff doesn’t always have the answers. It’s helpful to have someone else looking at the issues, too.”
Hildabrand says it’s important for citizens to realize that not all sales taxes or property taxes paid in Carlsbad go to the city. The majority of these taxes go to fund State programs and to the school systems. Also, funds are often designated for specific expenses or projects, leaving less flexibility in spending.
Among the greatest challenges in the coming year are decisions about capital improvement projects, which take up the single largest share of the budget. Hildabrand says large projects such as the golf course, swimming pool complex, and police shooting range civic buildings are facing rising costs in construction due to industry increases in the cost of building materials. In some cases, the increases are as much as 20 percent.
And, the cost of building a project is not the only consideration the City takes into account when the decisions are made to construct a facility. Factoring in ongoing operational costs is critical to sound fiscal management, says Hildabrand.
“Construction of a new facility might be feasible, but can the City be assured funds will be in place to also pay utility costs, buy equipment, and hire the staff to run it? Some cities build facilities, figuring they will find the money later for operations. In some cases the facilities may not open for a long time. “You have to maintain a facility, even if you can’t afford to open or run it. Meanwhile, buildings are deteriorating and depreciating. It’s not a good idea,” adds Hildabrand.
Hildabrand says city staff, the Mayor and Council really wants to hear from citizens. “Tell us how the city is running,” said Hildabrand. “Offer positive as well as negative. For example, if you think the fire department is doing a good job, or a park opens and it is really appreciated – let us know. This way we can improve the services we give to the community, and keep focused on priorities” she says.
Hildabrand says a clear understanding of budget matters will also help citizens make tough voting decisions. “The more citizens understand how a city is financed, the more prepared they will be to make decisions when measures come before them on the ballot to increase taxes. They'll be able to make an informed decision as to why a tax increase may be necessary or not," explains Hildabrand.
She adds that citizen participation will carry more weight when you've done your homework and prepared a solid foundation for your input.
"Get involved. Get educated," urges Hildabrand. "It's hard to make an impact if you don't have all the facts. If you come in prepared, you are more likely to get at least some of what you want," she said.
Hildabrand says she realizes that it's difficult for people to find time to participate. She says the City of Carlsbad does its best to make information accessible, including live and repeat television broadcasts of budget workshops and council meetings on Adelphia Cablevision Channel 3. Copies of the videos of the Council meetings are available at the Carlsbad Library locations.
Preliminary budget documents are now available in all Carlsbad library locations, and, at the city's Faraday Center.
An Operating Budget Workshop council meeting takes place on June 7, and a Citizens Budget Workshop takes place June 15th, at 5 p.m., Faraday Center. The City Council will adopt the final operating and capital budgets at its meeting on June 21.
For more information, visit the city's Web site at www.ci.carlsbad.ca.us.
Denise Walker Vedder,
Communications Manager
City of Carlsbad