Citizens interested in learning more in terms of the City of Turlock's spending expectations can attend an hour-long workshop prior to the regularly scheduled City Council meeting on Tuesday.

While no action will be taken, Administrative Services Director Kellie Jacobs-Hunter will be providing insight into the city's various General Fund and non-General Fund budgets for the next two years. While traditionally the city has adopted a budget annually, since Mayor Gary Soiseth took office last fall the city has been operating under a two year time frame. 

"I wanted to give a longer range view of the budget," said Soiseth of his decision to extend the timeframe.

The council received information on the General Fund, Municipal Services Department and Police Department numbers at their May 12 meeting. The workshop on May 26 will cover the rest of the departments.

While city staff have been working to prepare the numbers for the budget adoption process, since April 13, Soiseth and council member Steven Nascimento have also been serving on a budget subcommittee. This subcommittee's recommendations, paired with the aggregate information the council members have received at the council meetings, will be discussed on June 2 at a public workshop.

The public workshop, which will take place at 6 p.m. at City Hall, will allow the council, City staff, as well as members of the public to wholly review the budgets prior to its adoption which is scheduled for the June 9 meeting. While there is a stipulation that the budget must be adopted by June 15, Soiseth said that if the council isn't collectively prepared to accept the numbers the members can request an extension.

Also on Tuesday the Turlock City Council is expected to:

- Receive a joint update on water conservations and progress from the Municipal and Parks Departments;

- Consider authorizing the city manager to enter into a Professional Services Agreement with the Stockton office of the Kemper CPA Group, LLP in an amount not to exceed $15,000 to perform a compliance audit of the Convention and Visitors Bureau Tourism Fund for the period of Jan. 1,2009 through May 3,2015;

- Possibly approve an agreement with the Turlock Irrigation District for the purchase of 64 streetlights in an amount not to exceed $19,208.80;

- Consider purchasing ShoreTel Telecommunications Platofrm phone systems for the City of Turlock with a five year service agreement.

The Turlock City Council will meet at 5 p.m. for a special meeting to discuss the city's budget and the regular meeting will commence at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. The meetings take place in the Yosemite Room at City Hall, 156 S. Broadway.