During a public hearing Tuesday, Milpitas residents will have the opportunity to give input about City of Milpitas' proposed 2008/ 2009 fiscal year budget.

City officials will offer options to try to balance revenue and expense, which includes an estimated ongoing $4.5-million deficit based on a $72.6-million general fund budget.

Milpitas officials have suggested strategies to close the budget gap, including a Milpitas Redevelopment Agency loan payment of $6 million instead of $4 million ($2 million), reviewing personnel costs for planning and engineering to determine the amount that can be allocated to a redevelopment agency fund ($1.3 million), and cost cutting within departments through killing off vacant positions, reducing overtime, and slimming the amount of contractual services used ($1.2 million).

The budget hearing will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13 at the Milpitas City Hall Council Chambers, 455 E. Calaveras Blvd.