Summary
Giving feedback on the city's budget can seem intimidating. That's why we've put together this helpful little guide.
Action Box
Share your thoughts on the city's budget with your Council member! Click the badge above for a list of upcoming town hall meetings.
This post was originally published in 2025, but the tips are useful during any budget cycle, so we republished it for folks looking for advice in 2026 as well!
So, you know the city budget is important… and that you should tell your Council member what you think about it… but putting all your thoughts together can be pretty overwhelming! That’s why we put together this little guide. The idea is to make it easier for you to get involved in this important piece of local policy, even if you’re not some kind of budget expert!
PS – The examples we used here are for illustrative purposes only and are completely made-up. We put them together to make it easier for you to understand the kind of feedback City Council is generally looking for.
2026 Update – In this year’s budget proposal, check out page 33 for a list of funding changes year-over-year.
Illustrations by Alyssa Russell.