Budget Tool Box

Once the purposes for engaging the public are clear, the task becomes selecting the approaches that best fit the goals. Often using more than one tool will secure the broadest participation.

Budget Education and Outreach

How to share information about the budgeting process with your residents.

Budget Surveys

Collect public input by telephone, special mailing, online or in-person at a community venue.

Budget Workshops

Opportunities for public information sharing, discussion and feedback on a county or city budget.

Budget Advisory Committees

Budget advisory committees can provide local agencies with more focused input from a select group of community members.

Budget Deliberative Forums

Budget-related deliberative forums typically involve more intensive and/or longer-term facilitated processes than budget workshops.

Participatory Budgeting

A democratic process in which community members decide how to spend part of a public budget.

Working with Existing Neighborhood Councils and Committees

Neighborhood councils and committees can help provide early community input into budget preparations as well as review and offer feedback on specific…