Sound off on county spending

Some residents blasted Madison County officials for shooting down the school system’s initial budget request this past year. Others cheered.

It’s once again time for citizens to share their views about how they want their taxes to be spent during the coming fiscal year.

A public hearing to receive comments from residents about budget issues, needs and priorities is set for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13 in the auditorium of the County Administration Center in downtown Madison.

“This is totally for citizen input…citizens can say what they would like to see in the budget,” said Madison County Finance Director Teresa Miller.

In previous years, the board of supervisors has first released a draft of its fiscal year budget prior to hosting a public hearing to gain feedback.

This year’s budget process will be a little different – providing the public an opportunity to share its own budget priorities with the board before county officials start putting together the 2009-2010 fiscal year budget.

Miller said she thinks the public hearing will be helpful to officials.

“It’s good to know these ideas prior to preparing a draft budget,” she said.

Miller and County Administrator Lisa Robertson (Kelley) have already met with all of the county’s department heads and received budget requests from each department, she said.

A recent switch to billing residents for their real estate taxes twice a year, with half of citizens’ normal bills due in June 5 and Dec. 5 of each year, has bumped up the budget process.

In order to get bills out in May, officials have said the board would need to wrap up its entire budget process by April – about two months earlier than usual. (Typically, the board approves its budget and corresponding tax rate in June every year.)

A joint meeting between the board of supervisors and the school board to discuss budget issues is expected to take place in mid-January. The date will be announced later.

For information, call (540) 948-6700.