Year Round Budgeting

Lauderhill's budgeting process is unique among governments. Unlike other cities and counties, we work to shape our budget for the following year almost year round. In most places, budget workshops are in July, and debate occurs in September. Not Lauderhill.

The method is inclusive of all in our city. It begins to take shape just prior to and at the prior year's budget hearings in September. Ideas heard at these meetings are included for consideration for the following year's budget, and we hold a discussion on how we wish to proceed with the upcoming Annual City Retreat, normally held in December or January. At the retreat we discuss where we need to address issues we foresee for the following year.

This upcoming year we expect to hire a facilitator to assist us and look at future goals. We may also be looking at the programs the city provides so that we can analyze their usefulness and effectiveness. At this year's budget hearings we heard that the public wants us to cut taxes. However, to do it correctly, we need to address what programs will be cut to accomplish this. There isn't a program that someone wants, and feels important. However, to succeed in answering the taxpayers, cutting is what we will need to do.

Following the Annual Retreat, we will schedule approximately 5 Pre-Budget Public Workshops around the city. Each will address the concerns within a particular area, though anyone can attend and discuss any matter within the budget throughout the city. From these workshops we gather ideas of what residents and businesses like, don't like, want to improve, or maybe would like to see eliminated. It is your time for us to hear from you. The Pre-Budget Workshops traditionally fall between January and March.

In prior years we traditionally receive people who want more and more, which costs more and more. That is why taxes can go up, or alternatively, prevents them from going down. If taxpayers want to see reductions in taxes, they will need to attend, and tell us where we can cut, not add to the budget. These meetings are the most important meetings you can attend, if you are serious about taxes in our city. It is expected that this year, we will be providing details relating to program budgeting, so the Public and the Commission can see the costs of services and address these tax concerns. We need the Public to speak up. We will listen.

Following the Pre-Budget Workshops, we schedule a City Wide Budget Workshop in mid July to see for the first time how the budget looks for the upcoming year. This is also an important time for residents to attend. Though it is somewhat late to add programs, if residents want a program to be cut, this would be a good opportunity to express themselves.

In September the Commission is presented with its Final Budget to vote on at 2 public hearings. By this time the budget is set, and unless unexpected issues come up that prevent or cause us to change the budget, it is pretty much already completed.

As you can see, compared to other cities who debate the budget in September, we have already completed our debate, for which the Public is an active participant.