[0:02] HI, I’M CITY OF BLOOMINGTON DEPUTY FINANCE  OFFICER KARI CARLSON, AND I’M HERE TO SHARE   [0:07] AN UPDATE ON OUR 2026 BUDGET PROCESS. EACH YEAR, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVES A   [0:12] BUDGET TO FUND CITY SERVICES LIKE PUBLIC SAFETY,  PUBLIC WORKS, AND PARKS AND RECREATION. LIKE   [0:18] MANY COMMUNITIES, BLOOMINGTON IS FACING BUDGET  PRESSURES INCLUDING EXPIRING FUNDING SOURCES,   [0:23] RISING COSTS, AND AGING INFRASTRUCTURE AND  FACILITIES. TO NAVIGATE THESE CHALLENGES,   [0:28] WE’RE INCORPORATING A NEW APPROACH CALLED  PRIORITY-BASED BUDGETING. THIS NATIONAL BEST   [0:33] PRACTICE HELPS US EVALUATE ALL CITY PROGRAMS  BASED ON COMMUNITY NEEDS, ALIGN RESOURCES WITH   [0:38] OUR BLOOMINGTON. TOMORROW. TOGETHER. STRATEGIC  PLAN, MAKE DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS, AND INCREASE   [0:43] TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. THE GOAL IS  TO PRIORITIZE WHAT MATTERS MOST AND MAKE SMART,   [0:49] SUSTAINABLE CHOICES FOR THE LONG TERM. ON MONDAY, AUGUST 18 AT 6:30 P.M.,   [0:54] THE CITY COUNCIL WILL HOLD A STUDY SESSION  IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS TO REVIEW   [0:59] THE 2026 BUDGET. I’LL PRESENT BUDGET  INFORMATION AND OPTIONS TO CONSIDER,   [1:04] FOLLOWED BY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT  BEFORE THE COUNCIL BEGINS THEIR DISCUSSION.   [1:09] THE COUNCIL IS EXPECTED TO SET THE PRELIMINARY  2026 BUDGET AND LEVY ON SEPTEMBER 8. REFINEMENT   [1:15] OF THE BUDGET WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE  FALL. THEN AT THE END OF THE YEAR THERE   [1:20] WILL BE A TRUTH-IN-TAXATION PUBLIC HEARING ON  DECEMBER 8, ANOTHER STUDY SESSION ON DECEMBER 15,   [1:27] AND FINAL BUDGET ADOPTION SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER  22. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT BLM.MN/BUDGET TO   [1:36] STAY INFORMED AND ENGAGED. THANK YOU.