Fort Worth Wants Residents' Input on Budget Balancing

If you're good with balancing your family budget, maybe you can help out the city of Fort Worth.  The city is inviting residents to recommend what they think should be cut from the 2011 budget.

Due to the hard economic times, Fort Worth city leaders are facing a budget deficit for a second year in-a-row.  This time around, it's $77 million.  Last year, the city closed down some swimming pools, cut back on mowing and instituted furlough days.

Current budget-balancing proposals include a five percent cut in the police and fire departments and cuts in library hours. The current draft of the 2011 budget is available for review at the city website: FY2011 Budget

An open house for the city's budget is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 22. Residents are encouraged to take part and comment about city services they'd like to keep.  Residents will also be free to ask questions of the budget officials.

Those who can't make it out to the meeting can still make their recommendations known by using an online tool to balance the budget using cuts and revenue increases. Take part in the exercise here.

"The input we receive online is going to go directly to the city manager and help him establish his presentation for the council," said Fort Worth spokesperson Jason Lamers.

An updated budget will be presented to the council in August.

NBC DFW's Kim Fischer and Kevin Cokely contributed to this article.

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