Local News in Brief : Burbank Holds 1st of 3 Study Sessions on Budget Proposal

The Burbank City Council held the first of three study sessions Wednesday to examine the city’s proposed $204-million budget for the coming fiscal year.

The sessions are intended to acquaint council members with the proposed budget and to allow them to ask questions of the staff, city officials said. The review meetings, which are scheduled to continue tonight and Monday, will include discussion of the proposed budget for the police, public service and redevelopment agency budgets.

The proposed budget is up 9.4% from the current budget of $180 million, said Stephen Helvey, chief financial officer. He said that, except for adding seven city positions, this year’s proposal reflects basically “no change” from the spending program for the current fiscal year.

Burbank residents will have an opportunity to express their opinions on Tuesday, when the proposal for the fiscal year beginning July 1 comes before the council for approval.