Mayor Gray Seeks Citizen Input on 2012 Budget with Online Survey
DC residents are encouraged to share thoughts on how to balance the budget.
The citizen’s survey is another method of community engagement and collaboration.
— Mayor Vincent C. Gray
(Washington, DC) Today Mayor Vincent C. Gray launched a citizen’s survey on the District’s website, DC.gov, to allow residents to provide input on their priorities and how they would balance the 2012 budget. The survey asks residents to rate several budget issues and allows for additional comments on ways to raise revenue and reduce spending.
In advance of the Mayor’s State of the District Address the online survey will help shape some final decisions about the budget that will be presented to the DC Council on April 1st. Over the past several weeks DC agency directors and other officials have met with constituents to discuss the tough choices that need to be made in order to close the budget gap and develop a balanced budget.
The short survey will remain online at DC.gov until April 1st when it will be replaced with a new Budget portal that will contain a copy of the Fiscal Year 2012 Proposed Budget and Financial Plan, budget fact sheet and links to other important budget information. After the budget is released, Mayor Gray, City Administrator Allen Y. Lew and other government officials will attend several community meetings across the city to discuss the budget.
Residents are encouraged to continue their civic engagement with Councilmembers as they deliberate the budget and hold public hearings from April 7th to May 6th.
Earlier this week Mayor Gray heard views from a wide range of citizens concerned about schools in all wards of the city at his first public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2012 budget for DC Public Schools (DCPS) and DC Public Charter Schools.
“We’re asking you to help us think creatively about how to practice good fiscal stewardship while also living up to the equally important goal of providing our children the first-rate education they deserve,” said Mayor Gray, who was present for most of the 3 ½-hour-long hearing. “The citizen’s survey is another method of community engagement and collaboration.”
The State of the District Address takes place on Monday, March 28th at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Doors open at 5:30 pm and the program starts at 6:45 pm. Seating is limited and the public is encouraged to arrive early. The Convention Center is accessible by two Metro subway lines including the Convention Center/Mount Vernon stop on the Green Line and the Chinatown stop on the Red Line. To find the online 2012 Budget Citizen’s Survey and more information about the State of the District Address go to DC.gov.
Bates Area Civic Association 