It’s no secret that Santa Cruz is faced with budget problems.
It’s no secret that Santa Cruz is faced with budget problems. The city already faced a $9.2 million deficit when the state stepped in and absconded with $3.7 million in redevelopment funds, a significant sum for a city this size. Searching for solutions, the city became creative, and launched an interactive website, Santa Cruz City Budget, with the motto, “We Need Your Help.”
And people began to help. Almost 8 percent of the city’s residents registered for the site, offered ideas, and voted on suggestions with a ranking system that kept the best ones on top. Has it solved the budget crisis? Not quite, but it did give residents a chance to be heard, to share ideas, and to participate in local governance. Besides, some of the ideas people raised may actually work. Read more at CivSource.
