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You don't need any background in city finance to understand Menlo Park's budget. These five short pages explain the basics, in plain language, using real Menlo Park numbers. Read them in order, or jump to what you need.
1
What a city budget is
Two lists — money in, money out — and what it means that the Council votes on them.
2
How the funds work
Why the City has many bank accounts, not one — and how it can run a deficit while holding cash.
3
Where the money comes from
Property tax, hotel tax, sales tax, fees. Who actually pays, and what moves year to year.
4
Where the money goes
Police, libraries, parks, streets. Roughly how $89.8 million splits across departments.
5
The deficit, in plain language
A $1.8 million gap, and the only three ways any city can close one.
6
How a budget gets decided
The yearly timeline — and the one moment where your voice carries the most weight.