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From YouTube: This Week in Ames | City Budget
Description
Finance Director Duane Pitcher stops by studio 16 to discuss the City's Annual Budget Process
A
A
A
B
Is
a
lot
of
preparation
starts
with
input
from
the
public
early
on
in
October,
when
we
do
a
town
budget
meeting
and
we're
already
doing
some
work
at
that
point,
but
the
department's
put
their
budgets
together
and
part
of
the
reason
that's
done
early
is
because
we
actually
need
to
file
the
budget
by
the
middle
of
March.
So
there
you
know,
even
though
the
year
starts
July.
First,
we
need
to
be
done
well
prior
to
that.
Well,.
A
B
A
B
B
B
B
Right
now,
in
January
prior
to
that,
will
also
have
a
couple
meetings
where
we
talked
about
the
capital
improvement
plan.
Now
that
plan
covers
five
years,
and
that
is
just
as
it
described
it's
a
plan.
It's
not
the
actual
budget
and
the
first
year
will
be
rolled
into
the
budget
and
discussed
as
part
of
that
process.
That.
B
29Th
I
believe
we
started
two
o'clock
and
we
usually
run
until
close
to
five
and
that
is
open
to
the
public.
Also,
we
spend
a
lot
of
time
going
over
a
lot
of
detail
in
that
session
and
it's
not
a
public
input
session.
So
if
there's
anyone
interested
in
the
real
details
of
the
budget,
they
could
certainly
attend
that
meeting.
So.
A
B
That's
correct
and
there
well
marked
that
way.
Our
goal
is
to
have
them
PDF,
tanned,
searchable
and
out
on
the
on
the
web
as
soon
as
they're
sent
to
the
council.
So
at
the
same
time
they're
sent
to
the
council
and
in
the
same
format
we
will
post
them
out
at
the
web
and
I
think
you
do
often
some
links
on
the
front
page.
So
you
don't
need
to
go
back
and
look
in
finance.
You
can
certainly
look
on
our
web
page
for
older
reports.
B
A
You
talked
about
that
series
of
means
in
February.
What's
so
interesting
about
those
meetings
is
that
it
does
look
at
departmental
budgets.
So
if
you're
only
interested
in
say
streets
or
how
parks
and
recreation
is
spending
money,
you
could
just
attend
those
meetings
or
watch
those
means
online.
Absolutely.
B
B
Looks
good,
you
know,
I
think
we've
seen
some
recovery
overall
in
the
economy
and
that
reflects
well
in
some
areas
such
as
Local
Option,
Sales
Tax.
We
already
know
we
have
some
improvement
in
that
area.
You
see
the
construction
around
the
city
and
that
increased
some
valuation
and,
as
you
recall
a
couple
years
ago,
there
was
a
change
in
the
road
use
tax
and
that
was
increased
by
ten
cents,
a
gallon
and
that's
allocated
out
to
the
cities
for
road
improvements.
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A
B
Right
there's
the
extension
of
services
and
then
there's
also
that
upfront
cost
to
put
in
infrastructure
and
there's
also
a
delay
and
seeing
that
value
so,
for
example,
for
the
upcoming
year
1617
that's
for
value
that
was
in
place
as
of
january
first
2015,
so
people
may
drive
by
the
research
park,
for
example,
and
see
a
new
building.
That's
almost
done!
You
know
that
value
will
not
be
part
of
the
tax
base
for
the
year.
We're
discussing
right
now
and.
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B
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A
B
Where
we
have
an
annual
report
that
we're
just
wrapping
up
right
now
for
the
year,
that's
finished,
we're
always
working
at
implementing
the
budget
economic
development
projects.
We
started
a
new
TIF
district
this
year
out
at
the
Iowa
State
Research
Park
a
lot
of
big
projects
going
on
last
night.
We
just
approve
the
sale
of
bonds
to
fund
the
conversion
of
the
power
for
the
electric
plant
from
cold
and
natural
gas.
We've
got
the
water
plant
going
so
there's
we're
involved
in
all
those
I
mean
they
all
take
money
for
the
most
part.
A
A
If
you
want
more
information
about
city
finances,
the
budget
documents
and
the
upcoming
schedule
be
sure
to
check
out
our
website
at
city
of
ames
org.
You
might
notice
that
website
has
a
new
and
improved
look.
That
is
a
new
redesign
that
we
implemented
in
November.
Please
take
a
look
around
the
website
and
give
us
your
feedback.
Please
also
remember
that
City
Hall
mo
city
offices
will
be
closed
on
thursday
december
twenty
fourth
and
friday
december
fifth
december,
twenty
fifth
for
the
christmas
holidays.