A public input session on the city’s upcoming budget drew three people last week, but another opportunity to attend one is set for this Tuesday.

“What we want is community input,” Tealen Hansen, the city’s director of finance, said at the first input session on Wednesday in City Council chambers. “We just want to know what’s important to the citizens.”

Hansen discussed the city’s budget process, priorities and upcoming challenges.

Last year, the city unfroze eight public safety positions, added nine new positions and gave employees a cost of living adjustment and additional pay adjustments for some positions, all without a tax increase, Hansen noted during the meeting.

But every year brings new circumstances. Revenue in some categories is increasing, including in sales, meals and lodging taxes, new construction for real estate taxes, and personal property taxes.

“We like it when those numbers go up,” Hansen said.

But unknowns still exist, including how much revenue real estate taxes will bring in this year and how a $1.4 billion state budget shortfall will affect the city and schools.

There are new commitments this year, too, including new capital projects and a full year of the pay adjustments, which were given in October during the current fiscal year.

The city focuses on eight areas identified as priorities by City Council, Hansen said. They are public safety; financial stability; growth management and comprehensive planning; civic engagement and responsive city services; expand economic development; public education; leisure, health and wellness; and transportation.

The three citizens in attendance expressed concern about planned capital improvements and checks and balances.

Carol Johanningsmeier said she wanted to see the new downtown library project be built sooner rather than later.

“It keeps getting pushed back,” she said. The current capital improvements plan proposal shows funding for the library in fiscal years 2019-2021.

Johanningsmeier also said she was pleased to see an aquatic center has been set as a priority by City Council, even though it is not yet in the capital improvements plan.

Holland-area resident Mae Burke asked about checks and balances among city departments that handle money, in light of last month’s felony convictions of Norfolk Treasurer Anthony Burfoot on public corruption charges.

“We have a lot of checks and balances,” Hansen said, adding that an independent audit is also conducted each year.

A question about city support of the arts caused Hansen to remind those present that independent organizations can submit applications ahead of time to the city in hopes of gaining funding. Organizations like the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts and the Suffolk Fine Arts Commission are awarded funding annually.

The second meeting will be held this Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the North Suffolk Library, 2000 Bennetts Creek Park Road.

Those unable to attend can fill out a survey on the city’s website, www.suffolkva.us. Click on the “FY 2017-18 Budget Citizen Input Survey” button near the top left.