City of Columbia Budget Process

FEBRUARY

• Combined Annual Financial Report is finalized and put on the city’s website.
• City manager reviews capital improvement projects with departments.
• City manager develops budget guidelines for departments.

MARCH – APRIL

• Capital improvement projects draft prepared and given to Planning and Zoning Commission to review and comment.
• Council retreat: review year-end financials, strategic plan, and council-recommended topics.
• Departments prepare budget estimates for the current fiscal year and the next fiscal year.

MAY

• Council mini-retreat to review capital improvement projects draft, 6-month financial information, and budget issues for the next fiscal year.
• Additional revenue forecasting prepared.
• Budget staff reviews departmental budgets and meets with each department.
• City manager presents State of the City report.

JUNE

• City manager meets with each department to review their budget estimates for the rest of this fiscal year and next year.

JULY

• Public hearing on the capital improvement projects for next year.
• City manager makes final budget decisions.
• Proposed budget document prepared and distributed to city council, press, employees, and the public.

AUGUST – SEPTEMBER

• Public hearings and work sessions held to review departmental budgets.
• Budget amendments prepared.
• Council adopts the budget at the second city council meeting in September.
• Adopted budget document and capital improvement projects document prepared.
• OCTOBER
• Fiscal year begins.
• Budget document and capital improvement projects document placed on the city’s website.
• NOVEMBER – JANUARY
• 10 Year Trend Manual prepared.
• External auditors perform audit of last year’s financial information.
• Departments identify new capital projects.
• Budget staff develops intragovernmental charges for next fiscal year.