The budget season is now upon us. Our first step in creating new budgets is to set goals for the upcoming budget year. Those goals are derived from state law, city ordinance, and community vision.

We have easy references to statute and ordinance. However, community vision must come from you, either directly from or indirectly through your councilpersons. To provide you a means of direct input, the city staff and I have crafted short 10-question surveys for each city department.

I invite you to participate in helping to shape the community vision that will help guide our decision-making this year. Our first two questionnaires are available now and solicit input re: MCPD and MCFR.

Miles City Law Enforcement http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QC5HD7T

Miles City Fire & Rescue http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TKDR28C

On deck...Miles City Public Works and Miles City Public Utilities

Please check our City Web Site at http://gov.milescity.net for additional questionnaires as they are posted.

That was painless and quick.

It's amazing what this guy gets done in just 20 hours a week... oh wait.

The people that voted against this man's raise should be voted out of office IMO...

Thank you for your online comments and, especially, the participation from those of you who've been completing our questionnaires.

The next survey is ready for your input. This one addresses the City of Miles City Public Utilities Department, which is responsible for safely treating, storing, and distributing your public drinking water supply. It also is charged with safely collecting and treating wastewater to stringent permitting standards required by EPA and DEQ before discharging effluent back into the river.

City of Miles City Public Utilities Questionnairehttp://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Y7D9FML

Few resources are more important to Miles City residents than our City Parks System. This new questionnaire gives you a chance to sound off and offer your elected officials some direction as to how you'd like to see the parks system maintained, managed, and funded.

City of Miles City Parks System Questionnairehttp://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NV3X89W

After all of our survey results are compiled, a report will be submitted here, the local media, the City Council, and City staff.