The City of Lodi's Citizen Budgeting Tool will Provide Citizen Feedback to City Council
Community engagement and transparency are key components of effective governance, and thankfully the City of Lodi is undertaking some steps toward inclusivity with its innovative online budget simulation – "Balancing Act." This interactive tool provides residents with a unique opportunity to actively participate in the decision-making process regarding the allocation of resources and the prioritization of various programs and services. The Balancing Act simulation empowers you to navigate the complexities of budgeting, allowing you to make choices that reflect your priorities and values as a resident of Lodi.

How It Works:
The Balancing Act simulation presents pre-set budgets for General Fund departments, laying out the existing financial landscape. However, the real challenge lies in the unfunded strategic priorities that you can choose to finance. Want to see new services added or existing budgets boosted? You have the power to make it happen. But here's the catch – for every increase you propose, you must identify corresponding cost-cutting measures to maintain a balanced budget. There is an instructional video on the landing page to walk you through it. Also, in the actual budgeting simulator, there are links to the individual department budgets where you can see how the budgets are broken up (salaries, training, supplies, etc). That will help to inform you on how much to cut or add from the different departments.

Why Your Input Matters:
Your contributions are more than just numbers on a spreadsheet. The insights gathered from your budgeting decisions will be compiled and presented to the City Council in February 2024, during the Mid-Year Budget adoption. This means that your input directly influences the decisions made by the city's leadership in shaping the Fiscal Year 2024-25 operating budget. The goal is to have priorities identified from the data provided from the Balancing Act simulation results. This will inform city council and city leadership regarding the programs that the City of Lodi provides to its residents. Whether it's investing in infrastructure, supporting community programs, or addressing specific needs within the city, your choices contribute to the overall well-being of Lodi.

Ready to Make an Impact?
Embark on your budgeting journey today by clicking HERE. The Balancing Act submissions will be accepted through January 31, 2024. This is your opportunity to be a part of a collaborative effort to shape the future of Lodi. Don't miss out on the chance to make your voice heard and actively participate in the governance of your city. Of course, there is no substitute for showing up in person at City Council meetings and making your voice heard.