Okay, everybody.

Good evening, everyone.

Welcome to Chapel Hill Town Council's March 26th work session.

We're pleased to have you join us.

This evening we have one topic on our agenda.

An update and discussion of the 25-26 annual budget.

So before we get underway, just want to remind folks that the format of a work session is different from that of our business meetings.

Work sessions are an opportunity for the council to dive more deeply into a specific topic or topics as the case may be.

And these meetings are more conversational and less formal.

We don't vote during work sessions, and the topics come back to a regular business meeting.

So my assumption is that others may feel as that the same way, but I have asked our manager if there's a way that we can work in some time for public comment earlier than when it comes for a public hearing.

So that is TV.

Tonight is council's first in-depth conversation about the budget.

Then on April 16th, we have a scheduled presentation from Orange County on the property revaluation.

That's another thing we're hearing from a lot of folks about, as I think people got their rebows in the mail.

So as did I.

So we value public input.

We want to hear from you in person, in writing, and I think there may be some opportunities in the public engagement website as well coming up.

So we are scheduled to adopt a budget in mid-June.

And there'll be many meetings in between.

So if you have questions or input from tonight, please email us at Mayor and Council at Town of Chapel Hill.org.

Having shared all that, um council members, any announcements.

Yes.

So I haven't had an opportunity to just welcome in the month of Ramadan.

We are almost done with the month of Ramadan, and I just wanted to wish all who are observing the month of Ramadan Ramadan Bar, and we will have Eve coming up.

Some folks will be celebrating Eve on either Sunday or Monday.

I'll be celebrating it on Sunday.

And I just want to congratulate everyone and hope that they had a successful Roman government.

And an even bar.

Eid Web Bar.

Thank you for that.

Any other comments?

Karen?

Before we I wanted to comment, but generally before we start talking about the budget, I just want to express my honestly my frustration with well first that we didn't get the materials till the end of the Monday.

So did not really have the opportunity to digest it, but that wasn't as much of a problem because there's not that much there to digest.

At the last time we talked about the budget, wanting to see budget tied to council priorities and to see contingency plans, the open chaos in the federal government, not funding, and I feel like it's just really really high level, and I don't know how to talk about it in a way just could be helpful to you all to move it forward.

And then what numbers are there?

Just people have questions.

Where'd that number come from?

What's it based on?

What's the data behind it?

Like it made it really hard to do much with the information that's there.

So I'm not really sure how we're gonna help you tonight move it forward.

Um I personally have not been in agreement with the push to start talking about the budget really early.

Maybe this is too early, and I'd rather have you say that than to have uh you know this kind of fissure price, my first budget, you know, rocks conversation.

Um we've all been through budget processes before, and I think we know how a budget is developed, so I just I I feel frustrated that we don't have more content to work with.

So thank you for for your hand.

Thank you.

So understanding that, uh I so council members, you know, as we have our conversation tonight.

I know that staff is planning to track interests, and I'll do my best as well.

Um, and I think um it's really important that we make sure that we're being clear in our communication about what information we would like, um given that I'm not sure that we are early, um, although I understand your sentiment.

Um I too felt that um it didn't have a lot to go on, but I think given that let's just um really be clear about information or data that will be helpful, also if there and and I think um something that Mary Jane and I talked about would be to ensure that if there are things that are really time consuming or just not even you know possible to get that you all will let us know that, but then if there are things that you need the council to ask for as a board because it is um resource intensive that that we will make sure that we give you what you need.

Um, so please also let us know if um if we're not being clear or if you haven't gotten a council uh majority agreement on something.

So please don't feel shy to let us know that.

Um, having made that request, uh our presenters this evening are Mary Jane Nerdlinger, our interim town manager, as well as Amy Olin, our business management director.

Uh all right.

Well, I'll begin.

And um I do want to just acknowledge council members and your comments.

Um we are this week in the middle of talking to every department about their budget needs.

Um we receive a presentation from memory department where they've developed all of their needs, and um so I I know you would probably all love to see all the details.