Transparency/Municipal Finance Committee Program, 2024-2025
Education
Educate the community about how the local executive and legislative branches set priorities and how the decision-making model impacts budget decisions. Educate the community on the municipal budget processes and finances (city and school).
Transparency
The League strongly believes that transparency and accountability in government at all levels is vital for a wide variety of reasons: to encourage civic engagement, to measure goal achievement and evaluate results, to improve services and outcomes, and to track and monitor the actions of governmental bodies and elected officials. In furtherance of that objective, LWVN engaged in an assessment and study of Newton’s municipal transparency and accountability. A final study report of that assessment is being produced. LWVN will follow-up on that report by taking action to ensure that the recommendations for increased transparency and accountability are enacted to the greatest extent possible.
Accountability/Oversight
- Encourage citizen participation in city government.
- Review Community Preservation Act (CPA) applications and review how CPA funds are being utilized by the city in relation to the purpose and intent of the CPA. It is our intent to continue a focus on CPA proposals with a flexible and consistent methodology in how we accomplish this goal.
- Observer Corps: Identify members who will monitor governmental bodies for information of importance to the League and the community/state and advise the board of opportunities for action based on League positions.
Civility
Develop a plan that engages a diverse set of community groups, leveraging the National Institute of Civil Discourse and Northeastern University resources and other resources, in order to model and facilitate thoughtful and impactful conversations.
Any LWVN member interested in joining the Municipal Finance committee, please Contact Us.