From the Occupied Lexington Herald
Occupy Lexington is announcing the beginning of a several month long civic exercise that we’re calling the People’s Budget. Advocating for specific issues is important and we must continue to do so; however, we must also recognize that the real decision making happens in the budget when programs and initiatives are or are not funded.
In these hard times we are watching cuts in compensation and benefits for Lexington’s public workers while handouts to the wealthy continue in the form of PDR funds and TIF dollars. We asked ourselves, “what would happen if the people of Lexington came together to shape the budget from the ground floor?”
Occupy Lexington wants to collaborate with a broad base of the community to develop a fair and equitable budget for Lexington and Fayette County, and we want those most directly affected by the budget to be the key participants in drafting it. To that end we want teachers and students to draft the Education component of the budget. We want Police, Fire, EMT’s and Corrections to draft the Public Safety component, and so on.
We’re also looking for ordinary citizens to come out and make their voices heard and to join the process.
What makes the People’s Budget unique is that a group of citizens will be gathering proactively to present a comprehensive plan of action to our leaders, rather than reacting to a plan that is handed to us.
Lexington’s budget is made up of all of our tax dollars and as such the people should set the agenda rather than simply react to the agenda that has for so long been set for us. We ask you to join us and play a part in shaping the future of your city! We are the people, and in the spring of 2012 the people of Lexington will deliver our agenda, in the form of the People’s Budget. The process is starting now. You don’t want to miss it!
Meetings for the People’s Budget take place on Monday nights at the Occupation, Main+Esplanade. 8:00 PM. For further information, contact Ian at givemeonions@gmail.com –or just show up Mondays.
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