Tomorrow morning, Mayor Nickels will brief the media on more of the budget-cut plans to bring city spending in line with the dramatically reduced revenue forecast revealed last week. Though council votes aren’t required for him to implement cuts, councilmembers say they want to hear what you think – so they’ve just announced another public hearing, this one for next Tuesday night – read on for the official announcement from the office of Councilmember Jean Godden, who chairs the council’s budget committee:

Councilmember Jean Godden, Chair of the Finance and Budget Committee, announced today a second public hearing on the Mayor’s proposed cuts to the 2009 General Fund budget. This hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, April 22nd beginning at 5:30 p.m. in Council chambers at 600 4th Avenue on the 2nd floor.

“Citizens will have another opportunity to voice their concerns regarding budget priorities and comment on the Mayor’s list of proposed cuts to the 2009 General Fund,” said Councilmember Jean Godden.

“The Council and the Mayor need to hear from those who will be affected by the proposed cuts to the 2009 General Fund,” said Councilmember Godden. “While no Council action is required, we will be listening to and focusing on citizen priorities in the days ahead.”

Comments will help inform councilmembers as they begin to develop a resolution revising 2009 budget priorities as a response to declining tax revenues. The resolution will offer Mayor Nickels guidance on areas of interest to the Council as he works to prepare a revised 2010 budget over the summer. The Council will review and ultimately adopt a revised 2010 budget later this year in November.

What: Public Hearing on Proposed Budget Cuts
When: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Council Chambers, City Hall, 400 6th Avenue. 2nd floor

For more information contact Councilmember Godden’s office at (206) 684-8807.