As many jurisdictions are facing economic downturns, they are looking for innovative ways of solving their budget problems. One approach that has become a frequent Knowledge Network question topic is using citizen and staff engagement to help create a better informed budget.  Below are some of the questions users have asked about acquiring and applying this new input. These three questions discuss community input and the various ways it can be received, whether through traditional meetings or new online sources. All three discuss what has worked for  jurisdictions in the past and what has not.

Community Input Process

Citizen Feedback on the Budget Process

Interactive Citizen Preferences for the Budget

Some areas are looking not just to their citizens but to their own staff for additional advice. They are looking to access different budget ideas from people who work in various departments but might not otherwise have a say in the budget process.

Staff Engagement in the Budget Process

While taking in all these new ideas and opinions, sometimes it can be hard to tell what the next step is in actually applying the community’s suggestions. The link below leads to a question about that important next step of making those thoughts a reality.

What to do once you have citizen input on the budget?

You can also see ICMA’s Knowledge Network documents about the benefits of community input and how to use it effectively.

Using Citizen Engagement to Eliminate Huge Budget Deficits

Citizen-Based Budgeting

Public Involvement in Budgeting: Options for Local Officials