DATE: Wednesday, March 26, 1997             TAG: 9703260428

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Public Life

SOURCE: BY MAC DANIEL, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   64 lines

HOW TO... FIND, MAKE SENSE OF CITY BUDGETS

They're as thick as dictionaries and as dense as directions from the Internal Revenue Service. Yet your city's capital and operating budgets are important, dictating where your city's spending priorities lie, and where your tax dollars may go.

So before the final vote is taken, here are some ways to help navigate through the financial mush and get involved in this most important of city documents.

First, some basics. Cities deal with two budgets during the year - the operating budget and the capital budget. The operating budget covers one year and is approved annually. It covers the cost of running the city, including salaries, supplies, pensions and debt payments.

The capital budget usually covers one year and is normally included within a city's Capital Improvement Plan, which covers five years. The capital budget also is approved annually. It includes money for city projects, including new buildings, road improvements and vehicles. Some cities deal with the two budgets separately; others vote on them together.

Here is the breakdown for local cities. Public hearings are scheduled for all. Call your city's budget office for details (the numbers are listed below).

Virginia Beach plans to introduce both its six-year Capital Improvement Plan and the operating budget on April 1. The City Council will be asked to approve versions of both before May 13.

Norfolk is scheduled to introduce the operating and capital budgets April 22. Target approval date is May 20.

Chesapeake has approved its capital budget. The operating budget was scheduled to be introduced on Tuesday and approved by May 13.

Portsmouth has introduced its capital and operating budgets. Both are scheduled to be approved by April 22.

Suffolk introduced its capital budget last week and plans to introduce its operating budget on April 2. Suffolk likely will approve both by May 7, depending on how many work sessions are held. Only one public hearing is scheduled.

Some tips on how to understand the budgets, find a pet project, or get heard:

First, find your budgets. Every city in the region places copies of its capital and operating budgets in public library branches. The budgets are usually around the reference desk. Ask for them.

Copies also can be obtained from your local budget office.

If you're interested in a particular project, find out which department it fits under. For example, if you're interested in a particular road project, it's likely listed under public works' portion of the budget. If you're not sure, call the department to find out. Also, see if your library has copies of past budgets. Examine them to find out whether your pet project has been earmarked for money in the past.

Attend a public hearing and sign up to speak. It costs nothing. And if you're interested in getting something included in the budget, say so. Without your input, your council has no way of knowing.

Budget office numbers:

Virginia Beach Management Services - 427-8234

Norfolk budget officer - 664-4283

Chesapeake Budget Office - 382-6158

Portsmouth Budget Office - 393-8859

Suffolk Finance Office - 925-6377

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