BUDGET GUIDELINES
Resident Budget Requests The City will facilitate resident input into the City’s Capital Improvement Program with a systematic process designed to evaluate and track requests. Specifically, staff will evaluate each new project suggestion in the context of the City’s existing five-year capital program plan and in terms of available funding opportunities.
In order to promote, evaluate and track resident participation, staff will implement the following procedures:
When a resident contacts the City with a capital improvement project request, it will be the responsibility of the department contacted to forward a Resident Budget Request Form to the resident, as well as assist them in correctly filling out the form. After the form has been completed and returned, the responsible department will forward a copy of the completed form to the Budget Office. The completed form shall contain cost estimates for the project developed by the appropriate department. If the resident request does not fall within the contacted department’s operations, the initial staff contacted will direct the resident to return the Resident Budget Request Form to the appropriate department, or to the City Manager’s Office (CMO). Resident budget requests received by the CMO will be forwarded to the appropriate department. When the Budget Office receives a copy of the Resident Budget Request Form, it will be given a unique number for tracking purposes. Requests received before September 30 will be considered for funding in the next fiscal year’s budget process. Departments will review each request in terms of existing programs and projects, feasibility and appropriateness. Some requests may already be funded, just not completed, and others may fall within jurisdictions such as the County of Orange, CalTrans, or Irvine Unified School District. Once a request is deemed appropriate, the department will review the request in terms of its strategic goals, and provide a recommendation for funding. All resident budget requests recommended for funding will then have a detailed cost estimate prepared by the department. Once the status of the resident budget request has been determined, the appropriate department will prepare and send a detailed letter to the requester. This letter will include a restatement of the request, a detailed analysis of why the request is being recommended or rejected, and any relevant commission and City Council hearing dates. A copy of each response letter will be forwarded to the Budget Office. Department representatives will be required to attend commission and City Council budget hearings related to citizen capital improvement project requests, and be prepared to respond to questions regarding the status of each request. If the City’s evaluation results in inclusion of the new project in its future work plans, it is typical for the project to then be incorporated into the City’s Strategic Business Plan document as part of its five- year work program plan. The Strategic Business Plan is updated annually and, based on funding availability and changing City priorities, projects can be advanced, deferred or recommended for funding in the City’s next annual capital budget proposal.
FY 2019-21 Proposed Budget
533
Made with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog