We are gathering volunteers to watch and engage with budget meetings. This will create a resource for others doing budget work and increase the public’s voice during the budget process. Learn more below about the types of meetings, roles, and sign up. Once you are signed up, more information will follow via email. Thank you!
Types of meetings
There are 3 types of city meetings related to the budget.
- Department Budget Meetings
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Each department presents their budget proposal for FY2027. There is time for public comment specific to the department at the end of each meeting.
Most meeting are this type. ⭐ indicates a key department of interest.
- Town Halls
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Council Members Sallie Alcorn and Mario Castillo host 2 of these to speak with the community about their thoughts on the FY2027 budget proposal.
To attend, registration with the city is required. A button to “Register with the City” will show in Your Schedule summary if you sign up for a town hall.
- City Council Meetings
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Regular almost weekly meetings – one for public comment, one with a specific city agenda. During budget season, these regular meetings are also quite focused on the FY2027 budget proposal.
Volunteer Roles
Here are 2 ways to participate:
- Note Taker
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- Help build an important reference of what’s happening at the budget meetings.
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The most flexible option to participate. You can:
- Watch live online through HTV or Facebook,
- Attend the meetings in-person at City Hall,
- Join the meeting virtually, or
- Watch and make notes later in the same day.
- One needed per workshop
- Team coordinated by Emily
- Inquirer
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- Help ask crowd-sourced questions and track answers
- Represent Houstonians and our engagement to the departments and the city
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You will need to be available during the workshops. You can:
- Attend the meetings in-person at City Hall, or
- Join the meeting virtually
- You will need to register with the city. A button to “Register with the City” for each day will show in Your Schedule summary if you sign up as an Inquirer.
- Meeting time may run over.
- It’s okay if you need to leave at the end of the hour you sign up for!
- Any number of volunteers are helpful
- Team coordinated by Jaison