Guest Commentary: Important public workshop

The City of Marco Island’s Financial Planning Committee will host an open house from 5 to 7:30 p.m., March 23, in the Community Room.

The purpose of the open house will be to provide input to committee members as they shape recommendations to City Council for the upcoming budget process.

The meeting will begin with a brief introduction by me as chairman of the committee, and residents will tour the displays provided by each department on the services provided to the city.

Members of each department will be available for questions and assistance. Following this question and answer period, the meeting will reconvene into groups to answer questions provided on the value of the services and opportunities for improvement.

The establishment of this committee and the conducting of this workshop represents the latest initiative by the council to obtain an increased level of public involvement in our financial planning process and to start the process earlier, during high season — to provide greater opportunity for broad-based participation.

Obviously the final decisions regarding financial planning and budgeting are the responsibility of the City Council, and the formation of the Financial Planning Committee with community input is indicative of our efforts to encourage greater public involvement in the process.

Finally, this process should also serve to promote a greater understanding of the many valuable services provided by the city for their portion of our tax dollars.

It is with pleasure that I am looking forward to seeing you at the meeting and hearing your input.

For further information, please contact Lisa Douglass at 389-5037.