By Jason Freund 13

The Carbondale City Council and city staff took the first step toward developing next year’s city budget late Tuesday afternoon at a 3 1/2-hour budget retreat.

The retreat was the first opportunity to re-examine the current city budget, the five-year projections for city budgets, new ideas and common goals in preparation for the fiscal year 1999 budget.

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City Manager Jeff Doherty opened the meeting with an explanation of the purpose of the retreat to the council and about 30 other city staff members.

Today’s City Council meeting is to provide City Council with opportunities to discuss among its members and with staff, policies and programs that will guide the preparation of the city’s budget for FY 99, he said.

In addition to reviewing the current budget and budget projection, the group discussed current and future capital improvement projects and discussed the city’s philosophy toward creating a budget.

Carbondale Finance Director Paul Sorgen presented a review of the fiscal year 1998 budget, as well as the five-year budget projections. He said both budgets are within the projected ranges.

It appears that all expenses are in line, he said. It appears at this point we are in pretty good shape to end the fiscal year six months from now.

Doherty said the development of the city budget considers many factors.

The city’s budget is based on community goals and community policies, he said.

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The city philosophy included four main policies:To promote economic development and community growth.

To provide quality services with fiscal responsibility.

To encourage citizen participation and community pride.

To strengthen and promote neighborhood living.

Each policy included a series of goals, objectives and strategies designed to achieve it.

Doherty explained his goal for the new budget to the council.

My goal is to get to April and have a budget in front of you, he said, and so there are no surprises either way.

After the meeting, Councilwoman Maggie Flanagan said the budget retreat is important to get new ideas and proposals exposed.

This is the opportunity to take the time to discuss some of the things people bring to you, as well as getting things on the budget or at least on the calendar as a priority, she said. It gets people thinking about the requests from the greater community.

The budget retreat is one of Flanagan’s favorite yearly meetings.

It’s more informal, you can talk a little bit, generate ideas, you kind of see the long view of things, and then you see the accomplishments, she said.

The fiscal year 1999 budget is scheduled to be ready for approval at the April 20, 1998, City Council meeting.