The budget process actually begins in April/May, depending on the district or board in question (in my area, the AAC had its budget workshop in April, and the CDD had its workshop in May). The most important meeting in that process is in fact the workshop, where the staff presents scenarios to the board and the board discusses them and possible changes. By law, a preliminary budget must be approved by June 15 and the final budget must be approved by September 15. For CDD 4, there were three members of the public who attended the workshop: two of us who regularly attend all the meetings we can make, and someone who moving into the district.
I agree with others that the fact that the fiscal year begins on October 1 is not a conspiracy against us. There are opportunities in late spring to have an impact on the process, and the agendas and minutes of the subsequent meetings are available online.
One other note that you may or may not consider relevant to this conversation: The assessment rate/fee, set by the Board of Supervisors after input from the public (if any), is much smaller than the amenity fees, set by contract and increased based on the consumer price index. For me, on a yearly basis the amenity fee will be over four times greater than the assessment fee, even after a 20% hike in the assessment fee.
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