The Laramie City Council will be holding Work Sessions to discuss the City Manager’s Recommended Supplemental Budget for 2024.  Budget Work Sessions offer Laramie residents a chance to learn about their city government’s budgeting process and priorities, and community members are encouraged to participate.

Work Sessions will be held on May 10^th and May 17^th at 6:00 PM via Zoom or in-person at the City Hall Council Chambers. Additionally, a Special Meeting has been scheduled for adoption of the supplemental budget on May 23^rd at 6:00 PM. All three meetings are open to the public and the City of Laramie is hopeful residents will attend and participate.

“Achieving public transparency is a primary goal when the City communicates about recommended spending plans, whether through its budget books or Council budget sessions. The City Manager’s Recommended Budget Work Sessions and the Special Meeting allow residents to learn about the recommended spending plan for City services and begin to understand how government finances work,” says City of Laramie Administrative Services Director, Jennifer Wade.

Budget Work Sessions are important for those who wish to learn more about the City budget and planning. The City also recommends those attending Work Sessions or the Budget Special Meeting review the published Budget Book, as this publication provides much of the framework for Council meetings. It can be found on the City’s website at https://cityoflaramie.org/108/Budget.  While large, budget documents are written with an eye toward transparency and accessibility, and the City welcomes public comment about how to make these publications more user friendly.    

A Council Work Session was held on February 14^th to review the previously adopted biennium budget in preparation for this supplemental appropriation year.  For most of its funds, the City adopts a biennium budget (preparing and adopting budgets for two-year periods). In the second year of the biennium, the City Manager recommends a supplemental appropriation to the budget that’s previously been adopted, except in those funds where annual budgeting is performed, for Council consideration.

During the Work Sessions, Laramie residents can expect to hear the City Manager and various City staff provide information to the City Council and respond to questions from Council Members. The City Manager will discuss her strategy for vetting the supplemental appropriation and provide an overview of her recommendations. Financial position, revenue forecasts, and specific budget changes will also be highlighted.  At the Special Meeting, Council members may move and adopt changes to the Recommended Supplemental Budget.   The process will wrap-up on June 6 with a public hearing and adoption of the Final Supplemental Budget for 2024. 

“I know that the City’s budget might feel intimidating to access, given the size of the publication and the subject matter. However, we really encourage community members to check out the budget documents and attend the Work Sessions to gain a better understanding. Work Sessions are presented in a way that community members can connect to. It’s a great place to get an overview or dive into the details, based on an individual’s interests. says Jennifer.

To learn more and view budgeting documents visit https://cityoflaramie.org/108/Budget. Again, Laramie residents are encouraged to get involved and to gain a better understanding of the City budget by attending the work sessions on May 10^th and May 17^th as well as the Special Meeting on May 23^rd.