Think You Can Do Better? Take the City's Budget Challenge

The City of Alameda has launched an online, interactive tool to allow interested Alamedans to take a crack at balancing the City's general fund.

The Alameda Budget Challenge, launched in partnership with Next 10, a San Francisco-based nonprofit, is live online now. Use it to cut or increase spending to key departments including police, fire, recreation and parks, public works and library. Raise taxes: sales, utility or hotel. 

City leaders hope individuals, businesses owners and other interested parties will take a shot at making the numbers add up. As is, the City is projecting a $4.4 million shortfall to its $70-million-plus general fund in the 2012-13 budget year.

"People always come in and say 'save my program,'" said Assistant City Manager Lisa Goldman, "but they never say, 'save my program by cutting here instead.'"

The budget tool is a chance for people to demonstrate what programs and services they care most about and what they'd be willing to cut.

The budget challenge will be live for the next several months as city staff work on preparing the budget for the coming fiscal year. The information collected from those who take the challenge be presented to City Council. 

"This gives folks an opportunity to show us where they want to spend their money," said Terri Wright, a senior management analyst for the City who helped set up the challenge in partnership with Next 10. 

Tool users can also send feedback directly to city staff by using the "Take Action" button on the inside pages of the budget tool. People can fill out the challenge anonymously or use their own contact information. 

"Alameda is facing yet another difficult budget year, and this tool is an innovative way for Alamedans to learn about the City's budget and to share their views with the City's leaders," said John Russo, Alameda's city manager.

"Come June we have to adopt a balanced budget," Goldman said.

NOTE: Because Next 10 initially designed the budget tool for the State of California, which budgets much higher dollar values, the number shown, which are in thousands, may be confusing at first. But you can do it! 

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