Don't miss the Sunday, Jan. 31 Citizens Budget Conerence, noon to 5 p.m. at Seattle Center House.

Don't miss the Sunday, Jan. 31 Citizens Budget Conerence, noon to 5 p.m. at Seattle Center House. Only once every two years can you engage on budget issues with such a wide range of Seattle officials!

WHAT: THE CITY OF SEATTLE'S 2010 CITIZENS BUDGET CONFERENCE
WHEN: SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 12-5 P.M.
WHERE: SEATTLE CENTER HOUSE, MAIN FLOOR AND THIRD FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOMS

Sponsored by Seattle’s City Neighborhood Council and Seattle Center, in cooperation with the Mayor, City Council, City Budget Office, and Department of Neighborhoods

Be there for the kickoff of Seattle City government’s two-year budget process! Find out why budgeting matters and how to get involved in the decisions that affect you! Join the Mayor, his new Budget Director, City Councilmembers, and representatives of more than 20 City departments in dialogue about Seattle's revenue and spending priorities.

The Sunday, Jan. 31 Citizens Budget Conference begins with a budget fair (noon to 12:30, but some agency tables and exhibits will be ready by 11 a.m.) where you can talk one-on-one with agency representatives. At 12:30 there will be addresses by Mayor Mike McGinn, City Council Budget chair Jean Godden, and City Budget Director Beth Goldberg. At 2 and 3 p.m. there will be presentation/discussion groups where you can hear and quiz more than 20 City agencies large and small. The conference will end with a 4-5 p.m. panel discussion among City Councilmembers.

Agencies invited include the Seattle Department of Transportation, Department of Parks and Recreation, City Light, Seattle Public Utilities, Police Department, Fire Department, Municipal Court, Law Department, Department of Human Services, Office of Housing, Seattle Public Library, Department of Information Technology, Department of Planning and Development, Planning Commission, Design Commission, Seattle Center, Seattle Animal Shelter, Department of Neighborhoods, Office of Economic Development, Office for Civil Rights, Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, City Auditor, and Ethics and Elections Commission. There will also be a discussion group about Youth Issues in the Budget.

Only once every two years can you engage on budget issues with such a wide range of Seattle officials. The conference is open to the public, free of charge, with snacks and beverages. Seattle Channel 21 will record the conference for later video rebroadcast, and streaming video will also be available anytime on the City web site. Interpretive services are available upon request. Publicity in English, Mandarin, Korean, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese can be found at http://seattle.gov/neighborhoodcouncil.

Don't miss the Citizens Budget Conference--Sunday, January 31, noon to 5 p.m. at the Center House at Seattle Center! For further questions: (206) 322-5463, cleman@oo.net; or credmond@mac.com. The City Neighborhood Council is an official City of Seattle advisory body, composed of one representative from each of the thirteen district councils, which are also official advisory bodies.