TITLE
Recommendation to, by motion of the City Council, direct City Manager to purchase the NEXT 10 license for the City of Long Beach FY13 budget.
DISCUSSION
City Management has announced a $26.5 million deficit over the next three budget years. It is therefore vital to keep the public informed and engaged in this year's budget process and those in the future. Although Council members have held community budget meetings and the City has made the community budget document available, discussions of the impacts of the choices necessary to balance the budget are not readily apparent to most. To facilitate better understanding of the budget process and the impacts of selecting one set of reductions over another, the City Council should could utilize interactive software that allows all residents to review the proposed budget and to provide input on the decisions that need to be made.
Last year, Councilwoman Schipske brought to the Council a proposal to utilize a software system provided by NEXT 10, a nonprofit organization that focuses upon engaging and educating taxpayers in the budget process. Several cities are utilizing this software. Next 10 created the nonpartisan interactive California Budget Challenge (http://www.budgetchallenge.org/pages/home) in 2005 as a public service to educate and engage Californians on the trade-offs and tough choices involved in building the state's General Fund budget. This program is user friendly and has allowed the over 300,000 Californians to become educated and engaged in the state budget process. The software has been used to engage the residents of San Francisco, Los Angeles, Oakland, Alameda, and Philadelphia.
FISCAL IMPACT
Cost of the software is quoted at $16,000.00. City Technology Services will have to assist in implementing the software so it is accessible for all residents.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
COUNCILWOMAN GERRIE SCHIPSKE
FIFTH DISTRICT
COUNCILWOMAN RAE GABELIC...
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