Learn about The City's general fund budget at the Truth in Taxation Meeting on Monday, December 18, at 7PM at Blaine City Hall. The City of Blaine has been working on the 2024 budget for the last several months. The budget process begins early in the year when the City Council identifies priorities and provides general guidance to city staff. City departments then spend time each spring reviewing the current budget and making modifications and requests for the next calendar year. All the requests and modifications are reviewed by the Finance Department and ultimately by the city manager. The city manager is responsible for presenting a draft budget to the City Council. The draft budget is presented in the summer and then the Council is able to dig in to start working through the budget. By law, the Council must set a preliminary tax levy by the end of September. After the preliminary tax levy is set, it can not be raised it can only be lowered before final adoption in December. Residents can participate in the budget process through public meetings, questions to staff, and by contacting their Councilmembers.