HCC Advises on the City Budget
The Helena City Charter Provides: “Operating independently from the city commission or city officials, the Helena Citizens’ Council shall review and recommend actions relating to the annual budget and make recommendations relating to future development of the City.”
In order to address the HCC purpose a three step approach has been identified:
- The HCC Finance Committee, consisting of four (4) members has been appointed to spearhead the Annual City Budget review and recommendation process.
- The HCC considers all Finance Committee input and comments from the community as a whole in order to develop budget recommendations to be made to the City Commission.
- The HCC budget recommendations focus upon providing input to the City Commission’s “Resolution of Commission Intent for the Annual Budget”.
Helena Citizens’ Council Finance Committee
The Finance Committee consists of
Chair Jim McCormick, Olivia Tooley, John Forbes, Eric Ball, and Albert Clark.
These four representatives attend City budget development meetings, compile citizen input, and propose Budget Recommendations for full HCC consideration.
Resolution of Commission Intent for the Annual Budget
The City Commission develops its “Resolution of Commission Intent for the Annual Budget” in order to provide policy level direction for annual budget development. The HCC has identified development of this annual resolution as the most appropriate venue for HCC recommendations relating to the City’s annual budget
HCC Recommendations
Based upon City operations information, citizen input, and Finance Committee recommendations the HCC compiles its annual budget recommendations which address:
1) Progress on and attainability of past and current goals, and
2) HCC recommended projects and goals.
The HCC annual budget recommendations are submitted to the City Commission for them to consider in the development of their Resolution of Commission Intent for the Annual Budget.
Citizens Involvement
In order for citizens’ to be involved in this process HCC members are open to hear your thoughts and incorporate them in our recommendation. Please review FY 2010 Budget Resolution of Intent below and voice your thoughts to either your district representative chair (contact information listed under districts), or Finance Chair Harlan Rudolf by October 21st, 2010.
Suggested Advisory Timeline:
September 2010- Announce and send out previous resolution for review and considerations.
October 21, 2010- have written comments and suggestions submitted to Finance Committee by this deadline for compilation and Council review.
October 28th, 2010- During HCC monthly meeting Council will discuss comments and suggestions from HCC representatives; this is open to the public.
November 25th, 2010- Finance Committee will have revised a draft recommendation based upon October’s discussion and bring it back to the Council for further review and comments. Here the Council will vote whether or not to submit our recommendation to the Commission; open to the public.
December 15th, 2010- The Helena Citizens’ Council will submit their advisory comments for the future guiding policy document ‘Budget Resolution of Intent FY2010’ to the City Commission on this date.
Attachments:
2009 Resolution of Commission Intent
HCC first recommendation on budget policy for FY 2009
Commission Response to Recommendation
