Posted on June 27, 2013 at 3:25 PM by Amber Ahlo
The Institute for Local Government offers a wealth of free resources to help local agencies engage their residents in the budgeting process.
There are many good reasons to include the public in discussion about local budgeting. Such involvement can:
Better inform residents about local agency budgets, including revenues, expenses and challenges.
Generate support for workable budget solutions in light of local priorities, needs and constraints.
Through transparent and inclusive processes, sustain and grow public trust and confidence in the budget decision-making process and decision-makers.
Resources include:
Publications, best practices and reports on how local agencies can engage residents to address local budgeting-related issues: http://www.ca-ilg.org/public-engagement-best-practices/engaging-public-budgeting.
Case stories highlighting specific approaches local agencies have used to successfully engage residents in the budget process: http://www.ca-ilg.org/public-engagement-case-stories/budgeting-california-stories.
Nuts and bolts information on where local agency resources come from and questions to ask in the budget process: http://www.ca-ilg.org/budgeting-finance . There is also a piece on ways to use one’s agency website to share financial information, along with other local agency information: http://www.ca-ilg.org/post/local-agency-website-transparency-opportunities
Want to stay up to date on the Institute’s public engagement offerings? Sign up for the Institute’s e-newsletter at http://www.ca-ilg.org/public-engagement-1.
Does your community have a budget-related public engagement story to share? Feel free to share with us at: http://www.ca-ilg.org/post/share-your-agencys-public-engagement-story
The Institute for Local Government values your feedback on resources and how we can best serve your needs. If you have questions, comments or suggestions, please contact Katelyn Downey at kdowney@ca-ilg.org