The City of Sacramento is having their final hearing on their draft Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget on Tuesday, June 11! The city budget is consequential – it decides which and how many staff a program gets and ultimately shapes what the city prioritizes. If you care about improving transit and active transportation, making our city more walkable, and accurately accounting for the costs of car-centric infrastructure, you need to make a comment on the City Budget by June 11!
At Strong Towns, one of our main goals for our cities is transparent budgeting and accounting. Transparency is a first requirement in order to spend our money well. Without knowing how much we spend on road maintenance, stormwater runoff, or debt service, we won’t be able to have an accurate picture of what the sprawling or car-centric development is costing us.
While this budget is technically shared publicly, it can be a long and confusing document for most people. But it doesn’t have to be this way! City budgets can be transparent, engaging, and accessible. We know that if we want to have a better budget and a better budget process for our city, we as residents and community members need to be outspoken and involved.
How to Comment
There are two ways to make your comment:
- Make an E-Comment: Voice your support for this critical funding initiative by submitting an e-comment. Every comment counts, and showing strong community backing is essential.
- Item #23 Adoption of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024/25 Operating Budget and 2024-2029 Capital Improvement Plan – Select “Neutral”
- Attend the Meeting: If possible, attend the June 11 City Council meeting in person at City Hall to speak in favor of this funding. Personal testimonials and expressions of support from community members like you are incredibly powerful.
- Item #23 Adoption of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024/25 Operating Budget and 2024-2029 Capital Improvement Plan
Comment with Strong SacTown
If you aren’t sure how to read the budget, you are not alone! Join us at two upcoming events where we will read through the budget and draft our comments together.
- Sunday, June 9 – 11am-1pm – E-Comment Party at Old Soul at the Weatherstone, 812 21st Street
- Tuesday, June 11 – 4pm-5pm – Advocacy Power Hour before City Council Meeting at Immortal Cafe, 1111 H Street
Thank you for taking the leap to advocate for your city!