Several ward meetings regarding the 2009 and 2010 Albert Lea budget have been scheduled during March.

During the meetings, people in attendance will get the opportunity to receive a brief presentation about the status of the city’s budget. They will hear about budget strategies for handling an expected loss in local government aid from the state, and they will also have the chance to give input about their own priorities.

“I think that too often we tend to see changes coming and sit back and don’t go to things like this or participate in the solutions,” said 3rd Ward Councilor Ellen Kehr. “Then, after the fact, we’re disappointed. It’s much better to participate in the solutions and feel that you’re part of the process. I would encourage people to come. With all these challenges come opportunities.”

Albert Lea potentially faces a more than $500,000 budget cut from local government aid in 2009 and a more than $1 million cut in 2010.

Kehr said she hopes the meetings will clear up any misconceptions that people might have about services on the chopping block.

“With knowledge comes a better comfort level,” she said. “It’s what you don’t know that scares you.”

The 3rd Ward meeting will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Albert Lea Senior Center.

Meetings for the 1st Ward will be at 4 p.m. March 10 and at 6 p.m. March 12 at the Fairlane Building at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds.

A meeting for the 5th Ward will be at 6:30 p.m. March 24 at the American Legion, and a meeting for the 6th Ward will be at 6:30 p.m. March 17 at the Coachlight Room of the Elks Lodge.

City staff and the councilors of the respective ward will be in attendance at the meetings.

“This is an opportunity for us to look at our situation and evaluate the processes we have in place and look at how we can get better,” 1st Ward Councilor Vern Rasmussen said.

He said he hopes that through the conversations with the public, the city can get more viewpoints about how to not only cut the budget, but to also improve the city. It will be a good opportunity for the public to get an idea of how the city government is financed, too.

“It will be an eye opener for everybody,” Rasmussen said.

Kehr said some of the changes that may be instilled because of the meeting may be ideas that will be kept forever.

The meetings will follow the first official meeting tonight of the 12-member citizen task force formed recently to also come up with budget strategies.