Making Its Debut: New Budget Advisory Committee

Piedmont's new Budget Advisory & Financial Planning Commitee meets for the first time Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Emergency Operations Center, 403 Highland Ave.

On the agenda: hearing a summary of the 2011 Municipal Tax Review Committee's work; studying past budgetary information; and electing a chair.

Establishing the new committee was one of Mayor John Chiang's top priorities after he was selected as the city's new mayor by fellow Piedmont City Council members on Feb. 21. The committee's members, appointed by the city council on March 29, are Mary Geong, Steven Hollis, Bill Hosler, Tom Lehrkind and Tim Rood.

The committee will review and provide comment on five-year projections contained in the City’s annual budget proposal, the proposed funding and expenditures from several long-term funds, and the proposed mid-year budget adjustments. It will also provide a financial review of new programs in excess of $250,000 per year.

Tuesday's meeting is open to the public.

How useful do you think the new Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee will be? Tell us in the comments section below.