Savannah residents engaged in an open forum to express their opinions regarding the allocation of funds for the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. City officials, including the budget team, facilitated discussions that allowed citizens to provide feedback and pose questions about the proposed budget, which totals over $603 million.
Interim Chief Operating Officer of Management and Budget, Melissa Carter, emphasized the importance of public input in shaping the budget. “We really do need to hear the things that we need to consider and develop in the budget,” Carter stated. The forum highlighted various community concerns, with some residents prioritizing issues related to stormwater management and drainage, while others focused on public safety and the rising cost of living.
The city aims to incorporate this feedback into the budgetary process. Carter noted, “We’re a very diverse community, and everyone is impacted in a certain specific way.” This sentiment reflects the city’s commitment to addressing the needs of its residents, who live, work, and spend money in Savannah.
Community Engagement Shapes Budget Planning
City officials explained that the insights gathered from both the in-person discussions and online surveys will play a crucial role in the budget formulation. Following the receipt of feedback, the city plans to present a detailed budget proposal, which will again be open for public scrutiny during the city council’s budget retreat.
Interim Senior Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Sancia Joseph-Jarvis, indicated that the process will mirror that of the previous year’s budget planning. “We will have a section dedicated to the information that we got from the survey, the information that we got from our budget simulations, and how our budget formulates around that information that we receive as citizens,” she explained.
The online survey remains open until August 31, 2023, and paper copies of the survey are accessible at community centers and city libraries. This outreach effort underscores the city’s intention to ensure that all voices are heard in the budget development process, ultimately fostering a more inclusive approach to governance.
