Although the new year may typically start in January, Harrisonburg's fiscal year operates from July 1st to June 30th. The Harrisonburg City Council code requires that the proposed plan for the next year must be submitted 30 days before the fiscal year ends, which is April 30th.
To get this budget plan, the city manager is in charge of producing the budget based on conversation and communication with each department director. The city manager will then take the proposed budget to city council to approve.
It is also in the city council code that no budget can be adopted without having at least two public hearings beforehand.
The category with the second largest amount of money allocated is school, and education.. This category has a six million dollar increase from last years proposed education budget.
Although the school category had an increase in dollar amount from last year, overall, the city is proposing a lower budget than last year, by nearly nine million dollars.
Harrisonburg also plans on improving the community by adding helpful sidewalks in populated areas, replace aging infrastructure in community buildings, and continue to improve the water and sewage conditions.
The Harrisonburg city council appreciates and and all citizen input, and remains intent on making this city the best it can be for it's citizens.