§6710 Public participation

Summary

Local governments that spend these federal payments must hold at least one public hearing about how the money will be used as part of their whole budget. People must be allowed to give written and spoken comments and ask questions. The hearing must be held at a time and place that lets people attend. Governments should try to let senior citizens and senior groups speak before the final decision. At least by the 10th day before the hearing, the government must put a statement about the proposed use and a summary of the proposed budget at its main office for the public to see and publish the same summary and the hearing time and place in a local newspaper. Within 30 days after the budget is adopted, the government must post a summary of the adopted budget, showing the payment’s use, at its main office and publish a notice that the summary is available. The hearing rule can be waived if the state or local budget process already gives the same public chance and includes a hearing on the payment. The publishing rule can be waived if publishing costs are unreasonably high compared with the payment or if publishing is impractical. The Secretary may change the 10-day rule to match state or local law if satisfied notice will still be adequate.