New Budget Process Will Seek Public Involvement

Tacomans will have more opportunities than usual for providing input on the City’s budget this time around. That’s according to a new framework for public engagement laid out by City Manager T.C. Broadnax at last Tuesday’s City Council study session.

As the City is still in the process of sorting out its 2012 budget woes, Broadnax has proposed a process for the next budgeting cycle that will ask for more involvement from the public, as well as from City Council and staff at all levels. In light of the need to make millions of dollars in cuts to achieve a balanced budget, the task won’t be easy, but Broadnax promised the Council that he will have a balanced budget by the end of December.

As a first step in the process, Broadnax is asking Council members to identify their priorities for spending using what he’s calling a “budget ballot” of city services. As Councilmember Fey pointed out following Tuesday’s presentation, this gives the Council the chance to consider the entire City budget, which differs from past budgeting cycles where they have only been asked to look at parts of the budget. Priorities identified in that process will become a part of the discussion in council strategy sessions in June.

Community engagement opportunities will also begin in June, designed to “demystify” the budget process. Council members will lead the community budget meetings to inform and get feedback from constituents. You can expect those meetings to include some form of the “budget ballot” exercise to help members of the public identify funding priorities and understand budget limitations.

Over the summer, Broadnax also intends to engage City staff, including “frontline” employees in each department, for their feedback on budget priorities.

We can expect to see a draft budget sometime in October, followed by another round of Council and public budget workshops.

As for the 2012 budget gap, Broadnax hasn’t forgotten that, but is waiting word on a couple of critical grants that would help retain police and fire jobs, and fill that part of the budget challenge. One way or another he promises a solution that doesn’t carry over into the 2013 budget.

This is quite a departure from what we’re used to from the City budget process, and it seems to have the potential for good results. Now it’s up to citizens to get involved, stay involved, and hold Council, staff, and themselves accountable. Where do you want to start?