Ben Sorensen
speaker
8,447 appearances
37 recordings
1 series
first heard May 2024
last heard 2 Sep
Ben Sorensen’s voice in public audio — every appearance, attributed to the second.
Trend
recordings per month · last 12 monthsRecordings per month over the last 12 months — 9 in all, peaking in Jun 2026 with 3.
Appearances
We met with all the directors and they came in and talked about their project and the projects that they would like to move forward with in 2027, what initiatives, what keeps them up at night, some of the challenges and opportunities that they're faced with.
We spent about three hours
That meeting in March had a very good discussion with all department heads.
And they both recognized going into that meeting that we had some challenges looking at FY27 and 28 and a few years out.
So they were mindful of that and we did have some healthy discussions.
And then back in May, starting on May the 6th to the 13th and the 20th is where we bring all the departments back in individually.
and they give their budget request presentations to us.
We sit there, we have good dialogue about what they want to move forward with in more detail in the 2027 FY budget, what their asks are, the reasoning why they need that.
And then we ask for performance measures on some of the issues.
Response time has always been a big one.
RETURN ON INVESTMENT ON SOME OF THE DEPARTMENTS, HOW MANY, WHEN WE GET INTO DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES, WHEN WE SEE A DECREASE IN PERMITS, WE ASK QUESTIONS, WHAT'S THE TREND?
SO IT'S A VERY GOOD DIALOGUE OF QUESTIONS BACK AND FORTH OF THE BAT.
AND THEN WE ASK WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ENHANCED FUNDING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO NEED?
And as I mentioned previously, they were very mindful going in with their budgets and with clear direction working with the city manager and OMB that they had to really come in very, very lean, looking at not fluff into their budgets.
And I'm happy to report, as you'll find out later today, they have done that.
Another thing that we've talked as a board and I've talked, brought this to the attention of the commission for about the last eight months, we focused on reviewing topics that would have impacts for FY27.
Keeping in mind that we wanted to look at, we understand that affordability and cost of living is a big concern for the taxpayers, not only for the homeowners, but also the renters.
and the people that live here in our community in a lot of the downtown rental units.
We also dove into what AI, artificial intelligence, can hold for the future in efficiency opportunities.
As you know, and Commissioner Herbst, we've had some good discussions about the future of AI.
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