§6710 Public Participation

Summary

Local governments that spend money under this law must hold at least one public hearing about how they will use that money 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 helps people attend. The government should try to give senior citizens and senior groups a chance to speak before a final decision is made. At least 10 days before the hearing, the government must put a statement of the proposed use and a summary of the proposed budget where the public can see it at the government’s main office, and it must publish the proposed use, the budget summary, and the hearing time and place in at least one general newspaper. Within 30 days after the budget is adopted, the government must post a summary of the adopted budget (showing the payment 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 to participate and includes a hearing about the payment. The publishing rules can be waived if the cost is unreasonably high compared to the payment or if publication is impractical. The Secretary can change the 10-day rule when needed to follow state or local law if notice will still be adequate.