Los Alamos County Council Chair Rick Reiss opens the FY 2017 Budget Hearings this evening in Council Chambers at the Municipal Building. ScreenShot/LADP

Los Alamos County Manager Harry Burgess is presenting an introduction and overview of the FY 2017 Budget to Council this evening in Council Chambers at the Municipal Building. County Attorney Rebecca Ehler looks on at left. ScreenShot/LADP

Los Alamos Deputy County Manager/CFO Steven Lynne and County Budget and Performance Manager Karen Boutilier Kendall breakdown the numbers in the  FY 2017 Budget to Council this evening in Council Chambers at the Municipal Building. ScreenShot/LADP

Staff Report

The first of a projected four meetings for the FY 2017 Budget Hearings is underway this evening in the Council Chambers at the Municipal Building at 1000 Central Ave., in downtown Los Alamos.

Tonight’s tentative schedule:

• Introduction, Overview, Budget Summary and Long Term Financial Projection

Budget Presentations:

• County Council
• Municipal Court
• County Clerk
• Probate Court
• County Sheriff
• Fire Department

As the Council proceeds through each department, they may choose to indicate initial acceptance of each department when that presentation and discussion is complete. Such initial acceptance is subject to further changes during the budget hearings and during final budget adoption.

The FY 2017 Budget Hearings are scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, April 18; Tuesday, April 19;  Monday, April 25 and Tuesday, April 26. If needed, the Budget Hearings may be extended to Monday, May 2 and Tuesday, May 3. The proposed budget has been distributed separately, and reference copies are available online at the County’s website, at the libraries and at the 311 Customer Care Center. Additional reference copies will be available at the hearings.

Each hearing will stop at 10 p.m. or earlier. Council will try to cover each department on the day scheduled. After each department presentation and discussion, Council will tentatively approve the department budget. Parking lot items should be held to a minimum and will be resolved April 26.  

Public Hearings: Council will reserve up to the first 30 minutes of each session for public comment on any portion of the proposed budget. Once all comments have been provided, or after this time has expired, budget presentations and discussions will continue.

Budget Adoption: The Council may consider final changes and adoption of the budget April 19, 25 or 26, depending upon timing of discussions. If needed, this may be extended to Monday, May 2 or 3.

While the schedule below indicates that certain portions of the budget will be presented and discussed on specific dates, these are subject to shift earlier or later based upon the actual timing of the discussions: 

• Tuesday, April 19, 2016
  • Public Comment
  • Budget Presentations:
  • County Assessor
  • County Manager
  • County Attorney
  • Community Development
  • Community Services
• Monday, April 25
  • Public Comment
  • Budget Presentations:
  • Police
  • Administrative Services
  • Public Works
• Tuesday, April 26
  • Public Comment
  • Budget Presentations:
  • Utilities
  • Non-Departmental
  • Council Questions and Discussion of Proposed Budget
  • Parking Lot – Outstanding / Unresolved Items and Budget Options
  • Consideration of Adoption of FY 2017 Proposed Budget