Explaining Plainfield's Budget Process

As I have been out walking and knocking on doors all across the city, some residents (including some of my students at the high school!) have asked me to explain how the budget process is supposed to work with the switch from a fiscal year to a calendar year.

Here is a brief explanation: Every year, the city council meets for budget hearings and departments come before them to present and defend their expense proposals for the coming year. What is different is that with Plainfield switching to a calendar year budget, this is the first time in many years for the city council to be presented the administration's budget proposal in the spring. The introduced budget is drawn up by the administration, projecting its wants and needs for the twelve months that began in January. However, the final decision on how much the total budget will be and how it is allocated between the different departments is, by law, the council's decision. I hope that explains it!

Yours truly,

Roni