York City will kick off its budget season with a series of meetings during the first week of October.

The meetings are the first step in a process to adopt a balanced 2013 budget before January 1. Last year, the process ended with a 17-percent property-tax increase at a last-minute York City Council meeting on December 31.

By far, city residents pay more in property taxes than residents of any other York County municipality.

Four of the five meetings are scheduled for 1 p.m. at City Hall, 101 S. George St. The fifth meeting on Friday, Oct. 5 will be held at 10 a.m. in the same location.

The city's top administrators will propose department budgets to Mayor Kim Bracey and members of the public. The public works department is scheduled to go first on Monday, Oct. 1.

Staff from the community and economic development department will present on Tuesday, Oct. 2, followed by the business administration department on Wednesday, Oct. 3.

The city's police and fire departments -- which account for the biggest chunk of the city's operating expenses -- will be the subject of a hearing Thursday, Oct. 4.

The public will have an opportunity to comment at each of the meetings, including a 10 a.m. session on Friday, Oct. 4 set aside specifically for public testimony. Written comments can be submitted to budget@yorkcity.org.