City commission to hear entire FY-2019 budget this week

On Thursday and Friday, August 23 and 24, the St. Augustine City Commission will have its annual budget workshop when, in a more informal setting than its regular meetings, the Commissioners look at the entire 2018-2019 city budget, and Historic City News readers are encouraged to attend.

The meetings begin both days at 9:00am in The Alcazar Room, City Hall, 75 King St. The meetings are open to the public and will be streamed live and available on-demand the day following each meeting.

A comprehensive summary of the proposed budget, the Budget Book, is the primary source for the two days of meetings. The book is compiled by city staff and is guided by decisions the commission has made in recent months. Holding the line on the millage rate and setting the fire assessment fee are two examples of such decisions. The city’s Five Year Capital Improvement Plan plays a role in budget considerations for this year as well as future years.

On the first day, the Commissioners will discuss the various elements of the budget, and then Friday morning’s discussion will likely be more focused on those areas where the commission may take actions that will be reflected in the final budget document.

The final adoption of the budget will not take place until after two public hearings in September, but much of the document is shaped during the two meetings scheduled for this Thursday and Friday.

• View Thursday’s agenda
• View Friday’s agenda