Find out the latest on proposed budget cuts and help develop recommendations at the City Neighborhood Council's budget committee on Thursday, Oct. 7, and Monday, Oct. 18--both 5-6:30 p.m. in room 370 of City Hall X

The City Neighborhood Council's Budget Committee invites you to its meetings this Thursday, Oct. 7 and Monday, Oct. 18, 5-6 p.m. in City Hall room 370 (601 Fifth Avenue, third floor).  Hear the latest on how the Mayor and City Council are approaching the severe budget cuts needed this year, and help draft a comment letter to be acted on by CNC later in the month.  In mid-November, the City Council will adopt the budget, and without strong urging, they could go along with the Mayor's proposed cutbacks in crime prevention coordinators; the maintenance and hours of parks, community centers, and libraries; landmarks surveys; the  Department of Neighborhoods district offices and coordinators; and the Neighborhood Matching Fund.  The Department of Neighborhoods (already one of the smallest departments from past cuts) could receive proportionally larger cuts than any other department.

City Council resolutions 27709 and 28115 that established CNC and the district councils as official advisory bodies, state in identical language that "The responsibility of the City Neighborhood Council shall include review and recommendations regarding City budget issues, including the general fund, capital and block grant budgets, and the Neighborhood Matching Fund."  These resolutions also state that "The City Council shall consider the recommendations of the City Neighborhood Council and the comments of neighborhood organizations and District Councils in its review and actions on the City budget." 

The CNC Budget Committee seeks to involve the district councils and other volunteers in these discussions, and also encourages the district councils and individuals to write their own budget letters.  The July 2 letter on budget priorities that the City Neighborhood Council sent to the Mayor and City Council is available at http://seattle.gov/neighborhoodcouncil/documents/CNC2010budgetletteronletterhead.doc  For background or to get involved, contact CNC Budget Committee chair Chris Leman,cleman@oo.net (206) 322-5463, and please send us your ideas.

Whether or not you can come to the CNC budget committee on Oct. 7 or 18, please let the City Councilmembers know your views by messages (their contacts are listed at http://seattle.gov/council/councilcontact.htm) and at two public hearings:  Wed., Oct. 13, 5 -9 p.m. at South Seattle Community College, and Tuesday, Oct. 26, 5-9 p.m. in the City Council chambers.  To see the Mayor's budget proposals, go to http://seattle.gov, and for more information on the hearings and the City Council process: www.seattle.gov/council/budget