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RELEVANT LINKS: <br />City of Minnetonka: Ideas on <br />the Budget. <br />City of Hopkins, City Budget <br />Process. <br />City of Worthington, Budget <br />Information. <br />Minn. Stat. § 275.065, subd. <br />le. <br />Tax Value Illustration from <br />Lenexa, Kansas. <br />B. Tie budgeting to goals in budget documents <br />Citizens support goals not just expenditures. For example, all cities share the <br />critical responsibility to hold elections. One city sets a goal in the annual <br />budget to "continue providing efficient and friendly non-partisan voter <br />registration, absentee, and election day services" and tracks everything <br />related to that goal in the annual budget document. Citizens are therefore <br />able to understand and support the city's expenditures related to elections. <br />C. Foster citizen involvement in budget process <br />Many cities use citizen surveys to determine city priorities and guide budget <br />decisions about the level of city services provided. <br />Given the stress on city budgets and the expenses of a city-wide survey, a <br />number of cities seek citizen input on the city budget simply by providing a <br />way to submit ideas, questions or comments about the budget through the <br />city website. Cities may also seek citizen input from targeted discussion <br />groups, advisory boards and public meetings during the development of the <br />budget. Even though allowing citizen participation is required in cities with <br />population over 500 (by the truth in taxation law) it occurs late in the budget <br />cycle. Cities may wish to publicize the budget process or calendar to <br />encourage citizen participation earlier in the year. <br />D. Link citizen input to budget decisions <br />Once a city engages citizens in the budgeting process, include that <br />participation and comments in the budget documents. For example, if many <br />citizens comment on the need to revitalize certain commercial or residential <br />areas of the city, include the comments and actions that the city council <br />takes on that issue in the budget document, even if it is a preliminary plan to <br />investigate revenue related to revitalization. Then, citizens see how their <br />involvement impacts the city's budget process and plan. <br />E. Use the budget to communicate the value of <br />government <br />Easy to understand information on what programs and services a city tax <br />dollar supports helps citizen understand the value of government and city <br />budgets. City budgets necessarily focus on the overall cost of a service, for <br />example, police protection. But, looking at city budgets from the opposite <br />end—how much tax revenue comes into the city from each home and all the <br />services those dollars support—shows a more accurate picture of the value <br />of city services to residents. <br />League of Minnesota Cities Handbook for Minnesota Cities 10/15/2015 <br />Municipal Budgeting Chapter 211 Page 11 <br />