Traverse City commissioners will meet tonight (Monday) to finalize the questions they’d like to ask of four finalists for city manager during first-round interviews May 1 and 2. An ad hoc committee of commissioners refined a potential list of questions last week, which the entire board will review and approve tonight. In order to ensure equal treatment of all applicants, commissioners can opt to go into closed session tonight so that questions can remain confidential until the interview stage.

Acting City Manager Penny Hill – in conjunction with other city officials – will also review some key areas of the city’s proposed 2015-16 budget tonight. Traverse City Light & Power Executive Director Tim Arends and Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Rob Bacigalupi will present their organizations’ budgets and capital improvement plans, while Hill will discuss the Brown Bridge Trust Parks Improvement Fund budget and, if time allows, the Water and Sewer Fund budgets. A public hearing is scheduled for May 4 to allow for resident input on the city’s fiscal plan, with a study session set for May 11 to discuss the general fund budget. Final budget approval is tentatively scheduled for May 18. By city charter, commissioners must approve a 2015-16 budget no later than June 1.