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SUBJECTS › GOVERNANCE › EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT › Communicating About Government Spending (What We Get for Our Dollar)
Updated 06/08

Communicating About Government Spending (What We Get for Our Dollar)

Introduction

Tax and budget issues are often the focal points for citizen anger with government. Various polls and initiative actions indicate that citizen anger over taxes may not be primarily about the total amount of the taxes levied (although still an issue). Rather, the main issue may be the feeling that tax dollars are wasted, or are not being spent where citizens would like to see their money spent (e.g., baseball stadiums). Citizens frequently express the feeling that they have little influence over how their money is spent. Some voice their suspicions that special interests drive local decisions. There is confusion over different levels of government and how the tax dollar is split. There is a lack of understanding about the connection between the tax dollars government collects and the services that government provides. Budget documents are often lengthy and obtuse. More focused and understandable messages about budget decisions and tax dollar spending are urgently needed. This page provides examples for city and county officials to consider as they work on ways to better communicate with their own citizens. The approaches will most likely need to be adapted to fit local circumstances.

Examples - Simple, Effective Visual Explanations about Tax Dollar Spending

  • You Pay Taxes, Where Does it Go? League of California Cities - Effective presentation of where the tax dollar goes, especially the comparison of public and private services. Although this material presents tax information for the combined California cities, the approach could be tailored to individual WA cities and counties.
  • The California Local Govenment Finance Almanac.  Series of Overviews, Primers and briefs on the full gamut of local finance revenue sources and issues.
  • Axe and tax: a budget-balancing exercise, Seattle Times, 3/8/02 – an eye-opening exercise for better understanding budget issues.
  • "On Taxes and Other Prices," (Adobe Acrobat Document) Thomas C. Dority, Planning & Zoning News, Lansing MI, June 1995 - Survey makes wonderful case for the good value taxpayers get from their public dollar vs. private dollar.
  • Value of Your Port Angeles Dollar, (Adobe Acrobat Document) Port Angeles, WA - A newsletter article (Spring 1999) highlighting the (low) monthly amount citizens pay in property taxes for specific services and a comparison to costs of consumer items.
  • Port Angeles Budget-Related Presentations, including Myths and Facts about Property Taxes.
  • “Just the Facts, Ma'am" - Bainbridge Island, WA Mayor answers citizen questions about the budget in regular newspaper column, 2008.
  • Grandview 2008 Public Outreach Public Workshops: How Do You Want Your Tax Dollar Spent? – Particularly well prepared workshop materials and graphics educate citizens about the challenges of funding services in declining revenue climate, and invite citizens to participate in making choices – (Peter, please scan AWC Municipal Excellence Award submittal materials)
  • Your Tax Dollars (scroll to pages 12 - 15), City of Grand Junction, CO 2003-2004 Budget in Brief
  • San Mateo (CA) Property Tax Letter (Adobe Acrobat Document) - Effective one-page cover letter showing that services to the parcel cost more than property tax paid. Mailed together with budget-at-a- glance and annual report.
  • Santa Barbara (CA) Property Tax Dollar Mailer explanation - Simple one-sided mailer focused on key tax questions (US Conference of Mayors Best Practices)
  • Santa Barbara (CA) Property Tax Dollar Mailer - The mailer itself!
  • Kirkland City Update--Special Budget Edition, (Adobe Acrobat Document)Kirkland, WA, Summer 2008

Budget in Brief

Budget/Capital Improvements Program Citizen Involvement Process

Budget Guides and Tax Information

Annual Reports/Reporting Accomplishments 

Recommended Articles

  • "Talking with Citizens About Money," Management Information Service, ICMA, October 1997