Washington City Council will hold a Public Forum to receive public comment and input on projects and funding priorities for the city's Fiscal Year 2004-05 budget on Monday, Feb. 9, at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers, Room 214, Municipal Building, 102 E. Second St.

Public comments will be taken into account as City Council prepares the city budget for the period that will run from July 1, 2004-June 30, 2005.

The budget is the city's financial plan for providing services to Washington citizens, businesses and utility customers. These services include:

• Police protection and services
• Fire, rescue and emergency medical services
• Electricity
• Water treatment and distribution
• Wastewater treatment
• Solid waste collection and recycling
• Stormwater drainage
• Street maintenance
• Library services
• Recreation programs and facilities
• Public parks
• Economic development support
• Moore Aquatic & Fitness Center
• Washington waterfront and boat docks
• Civic Center operations
• Building inspections and codes enforcement

The annual Budget Public Forum is an opportunity for the public to comment about service levels in any of these areas. Local organizations seeking city funding also are invited to submit requests at this time.
Resources to pay for city services and contributions to local organizations come from property taxes, user fees, sales of electricity, water and sewer services, and state and federal government allocations. As both users and funders of these services, the input of Washington's citizens, taxpayers and ratepayers is very important to this annual planning process.

Citizens or customers unable to attend the forum may send written comments by Friday, Feb. 20, to: City of Washington, Communication Services Office, P.O. Box 1988, Washington, N.C. 27889, fax: 974-6461, e-mail: cstroud@washingtonnc.ws. Comments will be reported City Council at its annual budget planning session on Feb. 24 and 25, 2004.