Let’s Fix the Knowledge Gap on Trenton’s Finances

Trentonians have been kept in the dark for far too long about our city’s budget and economy.  Oh sure, administrations have done their perfunctory job of presenting numbers to the city council and the papers have carried a story here or there.  But no one’s ever explained the problem.

This coming Monday, February 7 that all changes.

Beautiful Trenton, TCCA and Fix Trenton’s Budget Committee are hosting a public information and planning meeting on Monday, February 7, to discuss Trenton’s municipal budget.  Doors open at 6:30 pm, with the program starting at 7:00 pm.  The meeting will be held at Mt. Zion AME Church, located at 42 Pennington Avenue in Trenton.

The meeting will focus on priority-based budgeting: setting priorities and making hard decisions.  Angela DeGraff will facilitate the meeting, which will include presentations by Fix Trenton’s Budget Committee and opportunities for participation by everyone attending the meeting.  All interested Trenton residents are invited to attend.

This meeting is the first in a series of meetings seeking citizen input and participation in the budget process, focusing on the 2012 municipal budget.  Future meetings will be held in the each of Trenton’s wards.

Personally, I’ve spent quite a bit of time preparing for this meeting along with the Fix Trenton’s Budget committee.  As activists we’re doing our part to help illuminate the hard choices Trenton faces.  It’s up to citizens to engage and the administration to do its part in fixing the budget process.

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2 Responses to “Let’s Fix the Knowledge Gap on Trenton’s Finances”

  • John Lamb:

    Hard nosed zero based budgeting. Start from scratch and question “entitlements” and Mandates”. What man as “made” man can unmake, so neither entitlements nor mandates are immune.

    Trenton’s problems have gone way beyond “political” or politically discussable. They are structural and mechanical.

    Metaphorically, if the foundation is crumbling, whether the curtains on the windows appeal to the viewer or not is past the point of irrelevance.

    CUT ALL SPENDING AND then build back only to a point under REAL income, no matter what.

  • Dan, I’m keeping fingers crossed for a productive series of budget meetings around the city, and I’m sure Fix Trenton’s Budget is ready. Thought I’d mention that David Brooks’ column today on The New Normal was a great piece on prioritizing spending.

    Best,
    Caty

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