Durham employs a year-round strategy of engaging and educating the community on the budget process using clear and transparent communication. They gather input through various opportunities including a Citizen Capital Improvement Panel, Coffees with Council meetings, public hearings, and online forums to understand diverse community issues and priorities. Durham aims to connect the information received to budget decision making and ensure follow up on how feedback influenced the adopted budget.

1. Citizen Engagement in
the Budget Process
NCLGBA Conference
December 12, 2013
Durham – Where Great Things Happen

2. Durham’s Overall Strategy
• Engage and educate community year-round;
not just during budget process.
• Be genuine in engagement and connect
information to decision making – requires
follow-up.
• Engagement must be tailored for specific
communities – issues, priorities are diverse.
• Must engage community using common
language.
Durham – Where Great Things Happen

3. Durham’s Philosophy
Be transparent
• Be consistent
• Be clear
• Be sincere
• Be responsible
•
Durham – Where Great Things Happen

4. Citizen Engagement Opportunities
Citizen Capital Improvement Panel (CCIP)
Meets monthly
Reviews and ranks requests in February and March
Coffees with Council (All meetings are open to all Durham residents.)
5 Different PAC meetings scheduled from early February through midMarch
Budget Public Hearings (regular City Council meetings)
Public Hearing, Monday, March 3, 2014
Public Hearing and E-Town Hall, Monday, June 2, 2014
Council work sessions on the budget (Committee Room, City Hall):
Wednesday, May 28 – Thursday, May 29, 2014
(Flagged items / Follow-up items for City Council)
Other Budget Milestones at City Council Meetings
City Manager presents budget to City Council: Monday, May 19, 2014
Council adopts budget, CIP and related fee schedules and ordinances:
Monday, June 16, 2014
Durham – Where Great Things Happen

5. Citizen Capital Improvement Panel
(CCIP)
Business and community leaders charged with:
•Assisting in capital project prioritization
•Advising City of critical CIP needs
•Recommending projects for CIP funding
•Monitoring completion of existing projects
Durham – Where Great Things Happen

6. Coffees w/Council
• Community “Budget Kickoff” – involve the
community in the process
• Held at various locations throughout the
Community
• Questions and priorities relevant to that
district are solicited in advance of the
meetings
• Budget Office updates community on
budget development and outlook
• Share Budget Gap $ - and explain what
contributes to the Gap
Durham – Where Great Things Happen

7. E-Town Hall
Televised live on DTV8 and
streamed online
Received questions in advance via
twitter, Facebook, and YouTube
Prepared Council based on topic areas;
assigned each member to be a topic
lead
Recruited ABC News 11 anchor
Anthony Wilson to be the Moderator
Durham – Where Great Things Happen

8. Engaged Durham
•We partnered with Peak Democracy, a nonpartisan citizen engagement organization
•Developed two forums focused on allocating
funds among Durham’s Strategic Plan
Durham – Where Great Things Happen

9. Engaged Durham
Durham – Where Great Things Happen

10. Engaged Durham
260 visitors, 52 responses, 85% approval rating
Durham – Where Great Things Happen

11. Engaged Durham
Durham – Where Great Things Happen

12. Other Engagement
Citizen’s Financial Report
City Manager Weekly e-newsletter
Resident Survey
DTV8
Durham – Where Great Things Happen

13. Using the Data
Coffees w/Council
•PAC district priorities
Resident Survey
•2011 Survey results – City streets, police
protection, and traffic flow
•
•
•
Durham – Where Great Things Happen
2010 Bond referendum to address streets is
on-going
Participated in the COPS Hiring Program
(16 positions)
Dedicated a portion of the property tax rate
to fund core transit services

14. Evaluate
• What were the community priorities
from all sources?
• How was the information shared with
City Manager and City Council?
• How were decisions influenced by the
information?
• How can we better engage more
citizens?
Durham – Where Great Things Happen