Budget season

As late as this past week, Mayor Donnalee Lozeau has said her proposed budget for fiscal year 2010 was still a work in progress.

Progress will come to completion by 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

That’s when the mayor is scheduled to present her budget to the board of aldermen. The board meets in the aldermanic chamber of City Hall.

For the most part, Lozeau has asked each city department to present to her budgets held to a 1 percent increase over current funding. The mayor has said the percentage isn’t set in stone, and ultimately it would be her call if a higher amount might be necessary in some departments.

Lozeau has also said the increase in the total city budget might be higher than 1 percent, but would come in under the city spending cap.

After Tuesday, the budget is under the board of aldermen’s jurisdiction. The board can adjust line-item appropriations in many departments and make bottom-line cuts or increases.

The aldermen’s budget review committee will have its first crack at the budget when it meets 7 p.m. Thursday in the aldermanic chamber.

Fiscal year 2010 begins July 1 and runs to June 30, 2010.