The City of Moab is asking area residents to weigh in as the Moab City Council begins reviewing the proposed budget for the 2019-20 fiscal year.
The City of Moab will hold a public hearing on the proposed 2019-20 budget on May 14 at approximately 7:15 p.m. at the Moab City Council chambers, 217 E. Center St. The Moab City Council will accept public comments on the proposed budget until May 28, when the council is expected to vote on the proposed budget.
The City of Moab invites community members to try out an online tool that allows them to comment and even suggest changes to the draft budget, Moab City Communications Manager Lisa Church said on May 7.
In a press release on May 7, Church said the budget tool is available online at moab.abalancingact.com/proposed-fy-2019-2010-annual-budget.
Moab City Finance Director Rachel Stenta said one of the longtime goals of the city has been to engage more of its citizens and the community in the budgeting process.
“I’m excited to use this budgeting simulation to give our community the opportunity to better understand our budget and to help them give us feedback,” Stenta said. “A better informed community is a more engaged community and that helps us all meet our goals.”
Using this tool, community members can manipulate a pie chart to show what the budget would look like if, for example, the city spends more money on parks and recreation, or reduces capital projects.
A bar at the top of the page shows whether the model budget created by the user is balanced or has a deficit or surplus. Citizens can also submit their own preferred model budget to the city as a suggestion, or make comments on the proposed city budget.
Comments may be emailed to city-council@moabcity.org or mailed or hand-delivered to Moab City Council, 217 E. Center St., Moab, Utah, 84532.
The city’s website also includes a link to the proposed budget, additional information about the budget process, and highlights of the 2020 budget.
Public comments accepted until May 28
