Budgeting and Forecasting

Modern Practices in Public Engagement

Conference

May 20, 2023

Oregon Convention Center
777 NE Martin Luther King Boulevard
Portland, Oregon

  • Field of Study: Finance
  • Credits: 4.00
  • Prerequisite: None
  • Status: This event has availability.
Details:

Time: 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm PT

It is widely recognized that governments should do a better job at engaging the public during the budget process. Public budget hearings, citizen surveys, and town hall meetings have become standard procedures for local governments seeking to satisfy basic requirements for public engagement. But these one-size-fits-all approaches often fail to adequately engage the public throughout the budget process. This dynamic can leave public servants disheartened with their investment in public engagement activities and uncertain about the value of engagement. Meanwhile, this can result in apathy among community members who are dissatisfied with traditional approaches to public engagement or exacerbate mistrust among those who feel that their contributions are not heard and will not have an impact. But modern, tailored approaches to public engagement can provide opportunities to meaningfully engage the public in municipal finance and budgeting processes.

Attendees at this session will learn about the essential elements of modern public engagement initiatives including: enhancing and improving ongoing budget engagement practices, adapting engagement methods for local needs, process scoping and resource allocation, broadening public participation with attention to equity, and addressing dynamics of misinformation, mistrust, and polarization.

  • Member Price: $195.00
  • Non-member Price: $260.00
Learning Objectives:
  • Those completing this seminar should be able to:
  • Identify opportunities and challenges for enriching current engagement activities
  • Learn about the scoping, planning, and implementation requirements for undertaking new forms of public participation
  • Consider how political polarization, historical relationships, and entrenched power dynamics may inform public engagement efforts

Register