Typically when the Manteca City Council meets to set budget priorities for the upcoming  fiscal year in what are typically four to five hour workshops, only two or three members of the public show up.

That means public input to help mold what has become a $50 million annual budget for day-to-day municipal operations as well as major capital projects is for all practical purposes non-existent.

It won’t be the case this year if residents take advantage of an effort to provide their thoughts on what the top priorities should be for spending the city’s money in the fiscal year starting July 1.

The City of Manteca’s Facebook page has been set up to accept input in advance of Tuesday’s virtual special council meeting being conducted on Zoom starting at 10 a.m. It is expected to last until 3 p.m. The meeting can be viewed live on the city’s website or on Comcast Channel 97.

“Obviously the council is going to make the decisions on the budget priorities,” noted City Manager Miranda Lutzow. “This is so the council has as much public input as possible to help them make their decisions.”

Lutzow said this year budget priorities will be even more critical given that city tax revenues have taken a hit from the pandemic lockdowns.  At the same time there is council priorities from previous years that have not been 100 percent funded.

Facebook is the easiest way to provide input. Comments posted to Facebook will be compiled and provided to Council but comments will not be part of the official record.

There are four other ways to make comments and have them included as part of the record.

*The first is eComment where you call up the agenda on the city’s website. New users will need to follow instructions to make an account. The comments are made by going down the agenda on the website and clicking on the eComment icon. Only one comment is allowed per agenda items of up to 500 characters. Any eComment can be at any time up to the item being heard by the council.

*Emailing a comment to mayorcouncilclerk@ci.manteca.ca.us up until two hours before the meeting. Comments 250 words and under will be read into the record while those over 250 words will be made a part of the official record but not publically read. Copies of the email comments over 250 words will be provided to council members

*Mail comments to the City Clerk’s office at 1001 W. Center St, Ste. B, Manteca, CA, 95337 that is received up to two hours before the meeting start. The same email word rules apply.

*Hand delivered comments to the city clerk’s door drop slot no later than two hours prior to the meeting. The same email world rules apply.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com