Preparations for the Fiscal Year 2013 ("FY13") budget for the City of Holland are underway. FY13 runs from July 1, 2012 until June 30, 2013.
The official budgeting process for FY13 began in January when the City Council held the annual "Coffee with Council," followed by its annual retreat in February. From the input and outcomes of those public events, senior city staff (led by Interim/Assistant City Manager Greg Robinson and, recently, Incoming City Manager Ryan Cotton) have met and discussed budgeting scenarios and suggestions. In early April, Ryan Cotton will present a proposed budget to the City Council for its review and discussion. ***
This year, prior to submitting the proposed FY13 to the City Council, new city manager Ryan Cotton released a statement on March 22, 2012 (see below), that broadly outlined some of the fiscal challenges inherent in the present economic climate as well as offered broad discussion on ways he will suggest to deal with those challenges.
As in years past, the City Council will meet often in April to discuss the FY13 budget and the City Manager's proposed budget. Those meetings are open to the public -- and, especially in light of the substantial fiscal obstacles that exist, the City Council strongly encourages the public's attendance at those meetings and input into the upcoming year's budget.
The City Council has established the following schedule to review the proposed budget (all subject to change -- check the online city calendar for the latest information):
All meetings currently are scheduled to begin at 5:30 pm and take place at Holland City Hall, 270 South River Avenue, Holland, MI 49423. Please check the calendar page for updates to this schedule. **
In adherence to Section 9.5 of the City Charter, the City Council must adopt the FY13 budget at its first meeting in May -- Wednesday, May 2, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at the Holland City Hall. A public hearing will be held at that meeting before the City Council adopts the budget.
In addition to attending the various meetings related to the FY13 budget, the public also in encouraged to contact the City Council with your thoughts, recommendations or concerns by clicking here.
UPDATE (05/02/12): City Council adopted Resolution (R2012.34) approving the City of Holland and the Holland Board of Public Works fiscal year 2013 (July 1, 2012 - June 30, 2013) budget setting the tax rate at 15.1085 mills. The most pertinent changes are now available below as PDF files (FY13 - Millage Rates & Millage Amounts; General Fund Summary; Summary List of Changes to Original Proposed Budget; Summary of Changes as They Affected General Fund; and the Summary of Across All Fund Types).
UPDATE (04/09/12): *** The City Manager's Proposed FY13 budget is now available below as a PDF file (10MB file).
UPDATE (04/05/12): ** The Budget Review meeting schedule has been updated with additional detail here.
