FY2010 Budget Set; Citizens Get Involved
The Lake Herman Sanitary District budget process for fiscal year 2010 is complete. At Wednesday's meeting, the board voted to maintain the $2000 tax assessment that it has levied for the past three years.
This year's budget process was immensely successful at getting citizens involved in the process. For years, the sanitary district has simply passed a budget with little to no public scrutiny or input. This year, thanks to good press coverage (see also here and here) and open communication, at least a dozen residents took the time to speak with board members and come to our two budget meetings to talk about their vision of what the sanitary district should be doing. The board and residents discussed a wide variety of ideas beyond the usual topic of central sewer:
- an inspection regime to identify substandard onsite septic systems
- financial support for shared but decentralized septic systems that might serve more densely populated neighborhoods where the need is greatest
- water quality projects like leasing land for grassy waterways and retention dams
- legislative changes that might authorize sanitary districts to assume water project district duties
The $2000 levy still exceeds our projected expenses for FY2010 (our total expenses for FY2009 were under $1400), and there remain plenty of questions about what we will use our projected surplus for, and when. But the substantial public conversation aroused by our budget process this year made clear that everyone involved, the board and regular citizens alike, want to see our tax dollars put toward projects that will produce concrete improvements in the quality of life at Lake Herman.
The Lake Herman Sanitary District board looks forward to even more public participation in the budget process next year.
