Skokie Vision 10

Skokie Vision #10: I always say that budgets first and foremost are moral documents. They speak volumes about a government's or agency's priorities.

Yes, as an experienced executive director, I present my board of directors with an annual budget that's balanced mathematically. But for the dollars to make sense, so to speak, it should reflect the needs, values, and ideas of the people served, especially for mission-driven organizations, which is my particular area of expertise.

In a true democracy, governments are necessarily mission-driven and anchor their accountability in constituents in all their diversity. Skokie's Village Board has missed the mark when it comes to fostering institutionalized systems that promote broad-based participation by the people through multiple entry points, such as boards and commissions, or project planning meetings that are easy to attend for people with busy lives or challenges due to limited mobility or language.

I'm a big fan of participatory budgeting, a decision-making process in which a broad base of constituents come together to develop consensus on how a particular pot of money, including TIF funds, is spent. It proves the point that when the people have a clear vision -- that is, if they lay out what they wish to be and see -- they will attract projects and allies that share these goals. And how cool is that!

For more info: https://www.participatorybudgeting.org/ This is what I would advocate for Skokie as Trustee.