FY2008 Budget Session Continues

The City of El Paso is currently underway with the FY 2008 budgetary process. This year's proposed budget was created based on key guiding principles, which include:

Sustainability. The Operations & Maintenance and Debt Service budget is funded with current revenues.

Core Services. All core services are fully funded with attention to public safety, health and community development concerns. All contractual obligations are also addressed.

Quality of Life Bond Obligations. Funding has been provided for all new facilities associated with the FY 2000 and 2004 bond initiatives that are or will be fully operational in FY 2008.

Investment in Employees and Technology. This budget reflects the City organization's continued commitment to redress disparity in compensation for non-safety, general employees, as well as other workforce-related investments, including technology infrastructure to support our productivity.

Council's Strategic Goals/Priorities. This budget provides funding to continue to advance and reinforce Council's strategic policy goals.

Budget presentations made by each City department during the budget hearings are accessible under the News and Notices section on the City's homepage by clicking the FY 2008 Budget Information link.

The Budget Hearings will also be available for viewing on the City's Video Events Page, which is accessible from the city's homepage www.elpasotexas.gov, or by clicking here. Please note that all budget hearings will be archived under the Special City Council Meetings section of the Video Events Page.

What's Next?
The following is a preliminary schedule of dates during which the remainder of the public hearings will occur.

August 7, 2007	City Council on Tax Levy / Tax Rate Ordinance introduced to City Council with scheduled adoption date
August 15, 2007	First Public Hearing on the Tax Rate
August 21, 2007	2nd Public Hearing on the Tax Rate; Public Hearing and vote on the adoption of the FY08 City Budget & Mass Transit Budget
August 28, 2007	Public Hearing and vote to adopt the Tax Levy / Tax Rate by Ordinance

**NOTE: Formal and Official notices for these hearings will be published at a later date.

Upcoming City Meetings & Events:

For a listing of City Meetings, City Council Meetings or community meetings.
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To find out what City events are happening in a neighborhood near you, visit the City Events Calendar.

Major Issues:

Open House Scheduled for Desalination Plant
The Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Plant will be open for public tours on Aug. 8 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
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Red Light Camera Customer Service Center Relocated
The Customer Service Center for Redflex Traffic Systems has moved to a new location.
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Accreditation Assessment Team Invites Public Comment
A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA ®) will arrive on August 4th, 2007 to examine all aspects of the El Paso Police Department's policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services, Chief of Police Richard Wiles announced last week.
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Public Safety & Health:

Information from the Health District

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Fire Department Public Education
The El Paso Fire Department would like to remind the citizens of El Paso to keep safe when outdoors this summer, especially when grilling.
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Development & Infrastructure:

Downtown Construction Update, Final Franklin Construction Begins
Effective Monday, July 9th, Franklin from Oregon to Mesa closed to traffic to allow for the final phase of construction of the street as part of the Central Business District Phase III reconstruction project.
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Storm 2006 Projects Improving Westside Drainage Begin
The first phase of the Westside Flood Damage Improvements Project and the Mesa Hills-Wallenberg Project have initiated as critical reconstruction priorities that have been identified as a result of Storm 2006. The following is a summary on the scope of these projects and current construction status.
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Neighborhood Pride Program
The Neighborhood Pride Program is a collaborative effort between the City of El Paso and Keep El Paso Beautiful (KEPB).
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Transportation:

New Art Windows Exhibit at Airport
The Department of Aviation in collaboration with the El Paso Museum of Archaeology, Museo de Arqueología del Chamizal, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, Hueco Tanks State Historic Site and Three Rivers Petroglyph Site invite you to join us for the new Art Windows exhibit "Archaeological Attractions Near El Paso" featured through August 31, 2007 at the El Paso International Airport Art Windows.
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SUN METRO: Back to Basics Pays Off
Sun Metro has made significant strides to ensure the community receives an increasingly "safe, reliable, clean bus driven by a professional coach operator that practices excellent customer service".
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Quality of Life:

"Zoolightful Summer Reading List"
The El Paso Zoo and the Westside Barnes & Noble Bookstore have teamed up to create a list of wonderful books featuring stories about animals, many of which the El Paso Zoo currently exhibits.
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Screen on the Green at Cleveland Square!
City of El Paso Quality of Life team offers another fun opportunity for families to visit and enjoy Downtown! Begin the weekend downtown! After Alfresco! Fridays, join us for Screen on the Green at Cleveland Square!
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Local Partnership Helps Enhance Recreational Activities for Youth
The City of El Paso Parks and Recreation Department will partner with the El Paso and Ysleta Independent School Districts on an upcoming endeavor to create programmed activities during the summer months on school campuses.
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In Other Parks & Recreation News…
Find out what is happening at some of the recreation centers near you!
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City of El Paso Selected as Site for Texas Historical Commission's Preserve America Workshop
Workshop scheduled for August 8th
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Everyone's invited to the El Paso Zoo's BUGFEST 2007
It's our annual Back-to-School Bugfest with fun & games for the whole family. We're breaking out the bugs and letting you see them UP CLOSE at the best place to bug out before school starts - The El Paso Zoo!
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El Paso Museum of Art announces Foreign Film Series -July line up
The El Paso Museum of Art Foreign Film Series continues in July! Be sure to catch this last movie of the month. All films are free and begin at 2:00 pm on scheduled Saturdays. Call (915) 532-1707 or log on to elpasoartmuseum.org for more information.
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