City Budget Process

Thank you for your interest in the City budget process. Whether for the City, a company, a non-profit or a household, budgets reflect our priorities and our values.

The City Council conducts its official budget deliberations from late September to mid-November, but drafting the budget is a year-long process. As citizens and advocates, it is important for you to understand this process so you know who in City government you should be talking to at different points in the year.

Here is a timeline that shows when decisions are made by City departments, the City Budget Office, the Mayor and the Council.

For historical perspective, you can read highlights of the Council's actions on the 2012 budget, search the archive of budget documents or watch this 8-minute audio slideshow from 2010 about City budget trends over the last 20 years.

We hope you will find ways to engage your community and City government around the budget. The more input Councilmembers receive from residents, the better decisions we make.

Councilmember Tim Burgess
Chair, Budget Committee