Complete Document - City of Auburn

Budget Message (continued) May 28, 2002The City of AuburnBiennial Budget for FY 03 & FY 04Budget Message from the City ManagerMay 28, 2002Honorable Mayor and Council MembersCity of Auburn, AlabamaDear Members of Council:Two years ago, we presented to you the City’s first biennial budget with theexpectation that it would give you and the staff a longer time frame to plan, design, andimplement the many projects that we have underway at any one time. In addition, webelieved that the staff is capable of setting goals and estimating revenues and expensesover a two-year period. I believe that the statement we made in the last budget messagehas proven to be true: “A two-year budget gives a longer-range view of the City’s needs,goals, and financial capabilities….the department heads and I are convinced that it will be avery valuable tool for us in planning and implementing the City’s work plan.” Nearing theend of our first biennial budget cycle, we feel that it has achieved all of the expectations thatwe had for it and are pleased to submit to you the City’s second biennial budget for FY 03and FY 04.The Government Finance Officers Association presented the City with its Award forDistinguished Budget Presentation for the FY 01-02 Biennial Budget, as it has for the priorseveral annual budgets. Finance Director Andrea Jackson has been invited to write afeature article on biennial budgeting in the GFOA journal and to make a presentation on theAuburn budget at the GFOA annual conference. In addition, two academic journals havepublished or will publish articles about the City’s unique use of citizen surveys in thebudgeting process. We are pleased that our professional peers acknowledge ourbudgeting system as one worthy of recognition and I hope that you find it valuable inmaking the important decisions that will impact Auburn citizens and the City governmentover the next two years and into the future.Accomplishments for the QuadrenniumAs members of the Auburn City Council for the past four years, you should be proudof the long list of significant accomplishments by the City government. It seems that weoften get caught up in the issues of the moment and do not reflect on where we were andwhere we are now. Since this will be the last budget that this Council considers, I thought itwould be worthwhile for you to review some of the major accomplishments of your term ofoffice.From your first day in office, you rated school funding as your top priority. Over thepast four years, the annual fifteen mill equivalent appropriation for the Auburn City Schoolshas gone from $2,822,247 in the first year of your term to $3,918,522 in your last year.20