Citizens Gain Seats at City Budget Making Table
Mary Jo Markle
Portland City Council unanimously voted to add citizens to the city's budget committee in a Council session on Wednesday, November 9, 2005. 5 Portland residents will be selected to: recommend programs, operations and policies; provide advice about budget and service issues; and assist Council in planning for the future. The citizens will have a one year trial period ending December 2006.
Commissioner Adams began the effort for citizen participation in the city’s budget process last spring when he lobbied the state legislature to amend an archaic statute that prevented the city from including citizens on the city budget committee. Answering Commissioner Adams’ request that Portland be entitled to the same citizen participation every other city in Oregon has, on June 28, 2005, the state legislature passed House Bill 3441. This bill allows Portland to expand its budget committee to include citizens.
“The presence of citizens on the budget committee will prompt greater fiscal accountability,” said Adams. “Citizens will have the opportunity to ask the questions that need to be asked about expenditures and financial assumptions in addition to adding diversity of thought and experience.”
Citizens interested in serving on the Citizen Budget Advisory Board should contact Mary Jo Markle.
View a copy of the Council resolution.
Posted by Mary Jo Markle on November 9, 2005
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