Consultation is a different beast altogether than information sharing. Whereas information sharing is a one way relationship, consultation creates a two way relationship based on citizen feedback. It relies on a fundamental assumption by local leaders that citizen feedback is beneficial to the budget process and decision making (often with regard to expenditures or even tax rate setting). This method provides for and encourages citizen input while still allowing local leaders to define the agenda. The key is that practitioners and elected officials solicit input a set of issues and questions that they create and control. The fact that government officials still retain control over the agenda is the primary difference between consultation and the final type of engagement, active participation. Within consultation officials have identified key areas they would like feedback on and it will still involve information sharing in almost all cases. Officials will set the stage, define the question and the background needed to understand the issue, and then solicit feedback on a (typically) limited element of the problem. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_zknCszY58?rel=0&w=560&h=315] A typical example of consultation is providing citizens with venues (such as public hearings and town hall meetings) where information is shared and citizens are given opportunities to give leaders their opinions and suggestions. An additional
Faculty Coordinators
