Columbia’s city manager is inviting you to attend today’s budget message at city hall, where he will unveil his proposed budget and highlight key priorities in that budget.
Columbia spokeswoman Sydney Olsen tells 939 the Eagle that city manager De’Carlon Seewood’s budget message today will be a little different than prior years. Ms. Olsen says today’s budget message will include some panel discussions. Columbia finance director Matthew Lue will join Mr. Seewood today, and Olsen says a few department directors will also speak at times today.
City employee pay has been a top priority for Mr. Seewood. During his recent state of the city address, he called for the city of Columbia to lead the market in employee pay and benefits. Columbia’s current operating budget is $533-million, which includes $10-million in pay raises for the city’s 1,500 city employees.
The city council plans three public hearings where you can testify about the budget: August 5, August 19 and September 3. The council is scheduled to vote on the budget on September 16. Columbia’s fiscal year begins on October 1.