Finance Advisory Committees: Tips and Traps

摘要

In today's environment of the 24-hour news cycle, social media and "fake news," cities throughout California are working hard to engage their communities and strengthen trust in local government. Residents increasingly question decisions made at all levels of government - particularly those related to use of taxpayer dollars and financial decisions. To help address such concerns, many cities are turning to finance advisory committees. These committees, composed of community members, aim to increase city government transparency and build accountability. Including the community in the decisionmaking process beyond participating in elections and city council meetings helps people better understand the types of decisions made at the local level, the trade-offs to consider and how city councils arrive at final decisions.