The City of Tacoma is opening up a digital gateway for its residents to shape the future of public spending. In a move designed to boost citizen involvement, officials are inviting community members to a virtual workshop on August 15 to learn more about the upcoming 2025-2026 Biennial Budget, and how they can play a role in its formation.
According to a notice published by the City, this one-hour session, which runs from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., will give participants a crash course on the City's budgetary puzzle using the "Balancing Act" tool. This tool allows residents to toggle various budget scenarios by adjusting service levels in attempt to balance the City's General Fund. The Office of Management and Budget will also outline the baseline General Fund budget as per priority area and field questions from participants. The feedback gathered here is expected to steer the creation of the Proposed Biennial Budget for 2025-2026.
Those looking to engage with the process can access the workshop on the specified date and time by visiting the City of Tacoma's official website. The event stands as a testament to the City's commitment to transparency and interactive governance, encouraging residents to weigh in on how their tax dollars should be allocated.
Deepening the communal roots of municipal budgeting, this workshop is but a step towards a collective fiscal envisioning. In the words of the City's notice, involvement and feedback from community members will "inform the development of the City’s 2025–2026 Proposed Biennial Budget," underlining the collaborative ethos behind Tacoma's approach to finances.
