City Council members began hearing budget presentations for each individual city department at a special budget meeting, Tuesday, March 20. Directors of seven city departments presented detailed budgets, including organizational charts, budget breakdowns, goals, accomplishments and responsibilities. The remaining departments presented detailed budgets on Wednesday, March 21, after this publication went to press.
Some of the departments' specific proposed budgets are:
* The Public Works Department proposed a budget of about $14 million for fiscal year 2008, an 8 percent increase from FY 2007.
* The Community Development and Planning Department also proposed an 8 percent increase from FY 2007, from about $1.9 million to $2.1 million.
* The treasurer’s office proposed a 3 percent increase, bringing the FY 2008 budget to $583,281.
* The Commissioner of the Revenue budget for FY 2008 is $885,133, a 7 percent increase from 2007.
* Cultural Tourism and Marketing proposed a 25 percent decrease this year, from $206,000 to $155,000.
* Parks and Recreation proposed a 1 percent decrease from last year, from $3,367,793 to $3,346,823.
A link to the city manager’s 88-page proposed budget message can be found at www.fairfaxva.gov. A copy of the budget can be obtained from City Hall.
A public hearing on the budget will take place at the City Council meeting, Tuesday, March 27. The council will also adopt a maximum possible tax rate at that meeting, as it must do every year prior to adopting the budget. The public outreach continues Tuesday, April 3, at 7 p.m., at Old Town Hall. The council is scheduled to adopt the 2007-08 budget on Tuesday, April 10, at its regular meeting.