For residents who’ve ever wondered where their tax dollars go or how public funds drive services that keep communities running, Riverside County’s “Budget 101: The County Budget Explained” aims to demystify the budget process, officials said Monday.
Another aim of the guide is to break down the budget clearly, simply and “relevant to everyday life,” according to the county’s announcement, which landed just prior to the first community workshops on the budget process. From housing and healthcare to roads and emergency support, county services are funded with tax dollars allocated through the annual budget.
A challenge for many — elected officials and county staff included — is gaining a clear understanding of how that budget is actually created. Determining where the revenue comes from and where it goes can be complex and confusing, so the Budget 101 guide’s intention is to help residents see the full picture.
“We created the Budget 101 guide to make our budget process easier to understand and more inclusive,” Riverside County Executive Officer Jeff Van Wagenen said in a statement. “When residents are informed, they’re empowered to participate — and that leads to better policy decisions and stronger communities. I hope you find this guide useful in explaining where public dollars go.”
The guide’s overview explains how the budget affects the programs and services people rely on daily. The new guide accompanies community workshops and a public survey.
The budget guide was released to coincide with a series of community budget workshops taking place this month countywide. These workshops give residents an opportunity to learn more about the county’s budget process, ask questions and share their priorities directly with county officials.
“The guide will be used as a resource during these sessions to help break down complex information and make the conversation more accessible,” according to the county.
The Budget 1010 guide and a list of upcoming community workshops are online at RivCo.org/budget. The first workshop is scheduled for at Wednesday from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the County Administrative Center Board Chambers, 4080 Lemon St. in Riverside.
