If you had $500, how would you spend it next year to provide services in the City of Durham?

That’s the first question in the City’s new online forum, “Engaged Durham,” created through a partnership between the City’s Budget and Management Services Department and Peak Democracy. The forum is designed to increase resident engagement and learn what they value most in the budget process.

The pilot program is now underway and will be active until October 31, 2013. Once subscribed, residents can participate in two budgeting exercises centered on the question, “How would you spend $500 to fund what is most important to you in Durham?” The first exercise involves spending $500 across the five Strategic Plan goals. The second exercise is more detailed, and asks residents to prioritize spending across 22 Strategic Plan objectives. Residents will also have the opportunity to make general comments about the budget process, upload photos or videos to illustrate their concerns or suggestions, and put a value on the priorities they think are most important.

According to Bertha Johnson, director of the City’s Budget and Management Services Department, the feedback collected from this program will be incorporated into the budget development process for fiscal year 2014-2015. “We are constantly looking for ways to involve more residents in the budget development process,” Johnson said. “Each year we hold five Coffees with Council, two public hearings, and last year we conducted our first e-Town Hall. We’re hoping that more residents will participate and give us their feedback so we can develop a budget that is even more tailored to meet the needs of as many of our residents as possible.”

According to Johnson, if Engaged Durham is well received during the pilot phase, it will be used again in the spring to solicit residents’ input on other budgetary concerns. "We want our residents to be part of the process,” said Johnson. "This is an incredibly cost-effective way to empower residents to participate in City decisions from the privacy and convenience of their own home or office."

For more information about Engaged Durham, contact John Allore, assistant director of the City’s Budget and Management Services Department, at (919) 560-4111, ext. 20292 or by email at John.Allore@DurhamNC.gov.