Feedback on Budget Process FY15-16

The mayor and city council appreciate your interest in how the City spends tax dollars. They are also interested in learning more about how you would like to be involved in budget choices in the future. City officials are interested in engaging local residents more deeply in these important decisions, and would appreciate your opinions about how best to do that.

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* 1. What is the one statement that best describes the reason you would attend a budget meeting? (CHECK ONE)

I would like to encourage funding for a particular project or group.

I think citizens should have a voice in how the City spends tax dollars.

I am curious about the budget and wanted to learn more.

I attend most public meetings.

Other:

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* 2. What would make you more interested in attending a meeting about the budget? (CHECK THREE)

I am involved at the beginning of the budget process, before decisions have been made.

I work in a small group and talk with other residents.

I help decide how to spend money in my district.

I don’t have to talk at a microphone in order to provide feedback.

I help decide the City’s overall budget priorities.

I push for funding for one particular project or group.

I help provide creative ways for the City to deal with budget issues.

I attend or participate online, without having to leave my house.

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* 3. When is it most important to involve the community in the budget? (CHECK ONE)

Every year at the beginning of the planning process.

Ongoing, at several stages throughout the process.

When tax revenues fall and some services must be cut.

When economic times are good and the City can take on new projects or spend more on old ones.

It is never really necessary; involving residents doesn’t change how money is allocated.

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* 4. What do you consider the biggest problems in how local residents are currently involved in the Kansas City, Missouri, City budget? (CHECK TWO)

The residents who attend budget hearings are just there to promote their own interests.

The decisions have already been made before the public hearing is held.

The budget is too massive and hard to understand for a regular citizen.

You can sit through an entire budget hearing and only have the chance to talk for three minutes.

If you’re afraid of public speaking, you are unlikely to make a statement.

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* 5. What do you consider the best parts of how local residents are currently involved in the Kansas City, Missouri, City budget? (CHECK TWO)

Residents who attend budget meetings and hearings listen to one another.

Residents who attend budget meetings and hearings get to hear from their council people.

Elected officials listen to residents when they speak.

Everyone has the chance to say something if they want to.

The people who attend budget meetings and hearings are given a voice in the process.

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* 6. On a scale of 1 to 5, how confident are you that you understand where your tax dollars go? (1 is not at all confident and 5 is extremely confident)

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* 7. What would help you to better understand where your tax dollars go?

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* 8. What do you see as the major benefit of improving how local residents are involved in the Kansas City, Missouri, City budget process? (CHECK ONE)

Citizens understand more about the budget and where their tax dollars go.

The budget reflects more of what matters most to local residents.

Citizens share responsibility for helping to make the hard choices.

Citizens may be able to offer innovative ways to handle budget issues.

The money comes from the public and the public should have a voice in how it is spent.

Lessons learned in improving how the public is involved with the budget can be applied to including the public in other areas of city government.

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* 9. Some cities use online tools, such as budget simulators, to learn about citizen priorities. On a scale of 1 to 5, how interested would you be in using an online method to provide your opinion? (1 is not at all interested and 5 is extremely interested)

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* 10. Engaging the public in the budgeting process can be done online, face to face, or both. What percentage do you think should be done online and what percentage should be done face-to-face? (TOTAL OF BOTH PERCENTS SHOULD EQUAL 100)

Percent online:

Percent face-to-face:

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* 11. What changes would you suggest for how you as a citizen can be involved in the Kansas City, Missouri, budget process?

Tell us about you by completing the following (OPTIONAL)

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* 12. Age:

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* 13. Gender:

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* 14. Race/Ethnicity:

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* 15. Zip Code of Residence:

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* 16. Email Address:

Would a group you are involved with be interested in hosting a focus group discussion about budget planning? If so, please let us know how to reach you, or email omb@kcmo.org.

Thank you for taking the time to provide this feedback!