It’s a chance for them to offer input as the FY 2019 budget is being drafted.
Frederick, Md (KM). You can have some input into the budget being drafted by Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner. During her public information briefing on Thursday, Gardner said residents can access a survey by going to the county’s website (www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/budgetsurvey). “Starting today {March 1st, 2018}, and running through the entire month of March, citizens can go to the county web site and vote for their top priority category as well as look through the budget requests, and select five specific budget requests which they also feel should be prioritized in the budget,” she said.
Those priority categories can include education, public safety or transportation. Gardner says some of the specific requests which have come in include an additional animal control officer, and some more emergency communications dispatchers and sheriff’s deputies.
“This will help me and everybody in county government who works on the budget to understand what the community values and what the community’s priorities are,” she says. For fiscal year 2018, Gardner said a m majority of respondents to the budget survey listed public safety and education as their top priorities.
“Last year, more than 2,000 people took part n the survey,”: says Gardner. “So my goal for all of you is ‘let’s beat that record this year.’ I want to see more than 2,000 completed through the month of March.”
As part of the budget drafting process this year, the County Executive will hold a hearing on Thursday, March 15th at 7:00 PM at Winchester Hall. Citizens can speak to the County Executive directly about their budget priorities.
“Some of you may still may be wondering why the county’ government’s budget should matter to you,” Gardner says. “Well, obviously, everything in the county budget is supported by your tax dollars, and you are the beneficiary of the services that are provided.”
Fiscal year 20198 begins on July 1st, 2018.
By Kevin McManus