Florida county’s e-government tracks budget process
Officials in Pinellas County, Fla., are using e-government to involve residents in the budget-forming process. The county’s “eTownHall: Budget 2012” engaged more than 10,532 participants as residents blogged, tweeted and called in questions about the budget.
As the Pinellas County Board of Commissioners works to reduce its budget by approximately $21.5 million, it has held community meetings and the eTownHall to give the commissioners and administrator opportunities to gauge residents’ priorities and to answer questions about the budget. The live Internet event, held on April 6, logged 532 blog readers with 156 comments posted. More than 10,000 residents who were called during the event stayed on the line to listen for an average of seven minutes.
The questions received during the event focused on a variety of issues, including fees, maintenance, consolidation, property taxes, facilities and services. In addition to the blogs, tweets and calls, some of the questions included in the live event were those posted during the March community meetings, as well as emails that have been sent to the county. The county commissioners and county administrator served as panelists for the meeting, which was held live in the county’s Communications Department. Al Ruechel, senior anchor for Bay News 9, moderated. This is the second year that Pinellas County produced an eTownHall to involve residents more directly in the budget process.
The live event also was broadcast on Pinellas County Connection TV. Three libraries dedicated computers for residents to use to blog in questions and comments.
Residents can continue to submit suggestions about the budget by visiting www.pinellascounty.org/budget. Watch a video of the eTownHall.