Municipalities use workshops, surveys to get taxpayer input on budgets, cuts. (Green Bay Press-Gazette, 7/31/2011)
Excerpt: Fearing a looming budget crisis and deep cuts in state aid, some Northeastern Wisconsin communities are going to unusual lengths to involve the public in setting spending priorities for 2012.
How well taxpayers will answer the call, however, remains to be seen.
"We've cut (spending) to the bone in the last couple of years, so now we have to take a more aggressive approach," said acting Howard village administrator Bob Bartelt, whose village expects to reduce some services to make up a $409,000 shortfall.
"We don't want to increase fees or taxes, and people say they don't want us to cut services, so we have to figure out what they do want." {The you've-heard-this-one-before emphasis added.]
Don't let this happen!
Still feel an inclination to sit back and ride it out?
Library directors need to activate their advocacy networks NOW. Brief your supporters and have them....
- Attend and participate in public budget workshops and presentations offered by your municipality.
- Review budget information shared online and respond to surveys. (Yes, I know they're unscientific, but officials will still use them to get a "read' on the community.)
- Present brief testimony at "Comments from Citizens Present" portion of council meetings. (Have advocates tell their library stories "for the record".)
- Write letters to the editor of the local newspaper (and cc: local officials).
- Attend functions where local officials are appearing and engage them in conversation. (And the main topic doesn't necessarily have to be about libraries. Just focus on relationship building.)
At the same time, library directors should look to.....
- Get a sympathetic reporter to help you state your case.
- Continue to build strong, positive word-of-mouth marketing at your library. (And make sure local officials hear the buzz.)
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