Sedalia city officials have begun the process of planning for next year’s budget by highlighting their priorities in their annual strategic plans.

The first of those plans was presented to the city council Oct. 7 by Roger Waters, director of the Crown Hill Cemetery. City Administrator Kelvin Shaw says the process culminates in the drafting of the budget that begins April 1.

The council will then gather in mid-January to review each department’s strategic plans and consider their top priorities.

Shaw adds that the city will field public comment twice during the process, with a session planned in December to weigh in on department priorities, followed by a budget hearing in March.