Community Input Sought on City Budget

Redmond residents and businesses are invited to comment on Mayor John Marchione's proposed City of Redmond budget on Tuesday, October 21 at 8pm (City Council meeting begins at 7:30) in the City Hall Council Chambers, 15670 NE 85th Street.   The complete budget, presented to the City Council on October 14, can be reviewed on the City's website at www.redmond.gov/BP.  This is the first City budget developed through the new Budgeting by Priorities process introduced by the Mayor earlier this year in cooperation with the Council.
 
The 2009-2010 biennial budget is a product of collaboration among the Mayor, City Council, City staff and the community.  The proposed budget preserves core services and advances several new initiatives that emerged through the budgeting process.
 
The guiding principles for the budget were to honor the Budgeting by Priorities process, live within our means, preserve core services, advance the Mayor's vision of Redmond, be consistent with Council policy and be structurally balanced. 
 
"We determined early on that if we were going to do something, we would do it well," stated Mayor Marchione.  "This budget focuses our efforts to provide quality core services and meet citizen priorities without new taxes beyond the Council's adopted long term financial strategy."
 
Based on input from the February and April community meetings, several citizen-suggested initiatives reflected in the Mayor's proposed budget include: 

• Design a strategy for permit processing that preserves the community's values while delivering a fair and predictable product.
• Provide a system of services and incentives to encourage developers to build environmentally sound "green" buildings.
• Develop a new City website.
• Provide funding for Public Safety commensurate with its high value in the community.
• Build and staff Fire Station 17 on 116th Avenue NE.
• Provide School Resource Officers in the high and junior high schools.

This public hearing on October 21 will be the best time for residents to express their opinions to the Mayor and the City Council on the proposed budget.
 
For more information, contact mgronlund@redmond.gov or 425-556-2427. 
 
Background Information
 
Mayor Marchione's Vision for Redmond
Create a city with two vibrant urban centers and connected neighborhoods, while providing high quality, responsive services to an engaged community. 
 
Budgeting by Priorities - Citizen Priorities

• Infrastructure & Growth
• Clean and Green Environment
• Community Building
• Safe City
• Business Vitality
• Responsible Government

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