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Budgets in plain words: the slides.

A 13-slide deck with speaker notes, for a 60-minute session. Present it from this page, or print it to PDF with one slide per page. The run sheet says when to show each slide.

While presenting: → or Space next, ← back, Home and End, S speaker notes, F full screen, Esc to stop.

Moraph for Good · Voice

Budgets in plain words

A Voice session from Moraph for Good

A free session kit · moraph.org/commons/sessions/voice/budgets-in-plain-words

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Speaker notes

Welcome everyone. Explain this is a free, nonpartisan session about reading a local budget and knowing when you can have a say.

Before we start

How today works

  • One hour, with a hands-on activity
  • Nobody has to share their own numbers
  • We take no side on any party, candidate or budget choice
  • Questions are welcome at any time

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Speaker notes

Set the ground rules. Remind people the activity uses a made-up town.

The big idea

A budget is a plan that shows what a government intends to do next year.

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Speaker notes

Every service people use, roads, bins, parks, the library, shows up somewhere in the budget.

Who decides

Different bodies, different budgets

  • Your city, town or county council
  • School boards or school governing bodies
  • Separate bodies for things like water or transport
  • Regional and national governments, which also send money to local ones

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Speaker notes

Ask the room which local services they use. Point out that each may be paid for by a different body with its own budget.

Finding it

Where budgets are published

  • Your local government’s website, often under finance or meetings
  • Meeting agendas and papers when the budget is discussed
  • Printed copies at a library or public office
  • Ask staff: they can usually point you to it

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Speaker notes

If you have the screen, you can show where your own local budget is posted at the end of the session.

Reading it

The parts of a budget

  • Summary: the short version, start here
  • Money in: taxes, fees, money from other governments
  • Money out: spending by service or department
  • This year compared with last year
  • Detail pages for each service

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Speaker notes

Most people never need the detail pages. The summary and the year-on-year comparison tell most of the story.

Activity

Elmbrook: money in (made up, in thousands)

  • Local property tax: 5,000
  • Fees and charges: 1,500
  • Money from regional and national government: 3,000
  • Other: 500
  • Total: 10,000 (last year 9,500)

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Speaker notes

Elmbrook is a made-up town. Everything is in thousands and rounded so we can focus on reading.

Activity

Elmbrook: money out (made up, in thousands)

  • Public safety 3,000 (last year 2,900); roads 2,000 (1,800)
  • Waste and recycling 1,200 (1,000); administration 1,400 (1,400)
  • Parks 800 (900); library 600 (600)
  • Debt repayment 500 (500); savings reserve 500 (400)

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Speaker notes

The figures in brackets are last year. Changes from last year are usually where the decisions are.

Activity

Try it

  1. Work in twos or threes with the worksheet
  2. Find the biggest area of spending
  3. Work out what share comes from local tax
  4. Spot what grew and what shrank
  5. Write one question you would ask staff

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Speaker notes

Give groups about fifteen minutes, then debrief for five. Walk around and help with the arithmetic if needed.

Having a say

The budget calendar

  • Staff prepare a proposal
  • It is published, often with meeting papers
  • Hearings, consultation or written comments
  • Changes, then a vote by the elected body

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Speaker notes

Dates and steps vary by place. The earlier you comment, the more room there is for change.

Having a say

A comment that gets read

  • Name the line or service you mean
  • Say who you are and where you live
  • Explain how it affects you or your neighborhood
  • Say what you would like to happen
  • Keep it short and courteous

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Speaker notes

Facts and your own experience carry weight. This works for spoken comment at a hearing or a written one.

Where you live

Your handout lists the official places to find budgets and take part in your country.

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Speaker notes

Point to the country block. Show your own local government’s budget page on screen if you can.

Thank you

Questions?

  • Find your local government’s budget page
  • Check the budget calendar and meeting dates
  • Read the summary and compare with last year
  • Send one short, specific comment early

This kit, the worksheet and the handouts: moraph.org/commons/sessions/voice/budgets-in-plain-words

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Speaker notes

Take questions, then ask people to circle one next step on the worksheet and fill in the feedback form.