Saratoga Springs to allow community input on budget

Saratoga Springs has introduced a participatory budgeting initiative for community members to decide how to spend part of the public budget. Commissioner of Finance, Minita Sanghvi, introduced this concept.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Saratoga Springs has introduced a participatory budgeting initiative for community members to decide how to spend part of the public budget. Commissioner of Finance, Minita Sanghvi, introduced this concept.

“Participatory budgeting gives everyone a seat at the table and creates an inclusive budget process,” said Sanghvi.

Her goals for this initiative are:

• Make local government more inclusive by expanding and diversifying participation in the budget process
• Listen to the needs of the community and use participatory budgeting to make meaningful change
• Make sustainable decisions
• Create and foster civic engagement

Sanghvi will hold a series of public forums for the community to learn more about the process, beginning with an event at the Saratoga Springs Senior Center on April 11 at 2 p.m.