Public Management Bulletin #6

The bulletin provides details about the challenges facing effective public participation on local government budgeting decisions, and examples and practical tips on informing, listening and encouraging more informed citizens' opinions and priorities about local government budgets. Creating Effective Citizen Participation in Local Government Budgeting: Practical Tips and Examples for Elected Officials and Budget Administrators -- addresses three main questions in detail:

(1) How is the current budget and proposed budget information being made available in a way more easily understood by citizens?

(2) How can local government leaders seek and receive citizen input, other than the small number who use the citizen comment period of regular board meetings?

(3) Three tools to help citizens focus on the trade-offs that the elected board face? Three ways -- online simplified budget amounts; short-term citizen study groups; and budgeting in a group game exercise are offered to better engage citizens.