The City of Durham has officially commenced its journey towards crafting the budget for the upcoming year, a process that will lay the groundwork for funding community-driven priorities over the next 12 months. In a statement publicized last Friday released by the city’s official website, City Manager Bo Ferguson shared insights on the budget deliberations and the anticipated role of community involvement and the city’s Strategic Plan in shaping fiscal decisions.
Emphasizing the significance of alignment with the city’s Strategic Plan, Ferguson noted that the plan highlights the community’s most pressing goals – areas that will receive focused resource allocation. The plan isn’t a static document, but rather a living guide that continues to evolve with the community. To keep it current, Ferguson mentioned, “we held workshops last fall with our City Council to hear their goals and priorities for a refreshed plan,” as reported by the City of Durham. Moreover, input was sought from residents and employees in November to contribute to this update.
In his missive released on the city’s official website, Ferguson announced a schedule of meetings to encourage public participation, featuring budget retreats in February, regular work sessions throughout spring, and public hearings set for March 16 and June 1. This string of events serves as an open invitation for residents to have a say in their city’s financial planning…