Each year, Mecklenburg County prepares an operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The process began this year at the Board of County Commissioners Strategic Planning Conference in January. Throughout the spring, the county manager meets with department directors to develop a budget that he will present to the Board on May 20. The board conducts many budget workshops and and offers the public an opportunity to express an opinion about the manager's recommended budget. The process cultimates with the Board's adoption of the FY04 budget on June 17.

Here's the schedule of budget-related events and meetings:

May 20 - County Manager presents his recommended budget to the Board of County Commissioners.

May 22 & 27 - The Board discusses the recommended budget

May 29 - Public hearing on the budget

June 4, 5, 10, 11, 12 - Board budget decision workshops

June 17 - Board adopts the FY04 Budget