The process for preparing and adopting the city’s annual budget is outlined in Washington State law and must comply with statutory requirements. The City of Battle Ground’s 2019 Budget process began early this year, assuring compliance with requirements and sufficient time to prepare the city’s financial plan.
The budget process, while highly detailed, contains these basic elements:
- City Council establishes goals and priorities (April)
- City departments prepare estimates of 2019 revenues and expenditures based on best practices and economic indicators; results are compiled (May – August)
- The City Manager develops a preliminary budget based on the council’s objectives and compiled revenue and expenditure estimates (September – October)
- The City Manager submits preliminary budget to City Council (October 15 – available by request to the City Clerk at cityclerk.info@cityofbg.org)
- City Council considers preliminary budget, potential revisions and revenue increases, and conducts public hearings (November – December)
- City Council adopts final budget by ordinance (December)
- Adopted budget is published on city website and/or available at city hall (January)
City Council meetings, agendas and minutes are available on our website Agenda Center and Calendar