Next week, Charlottesville residents will have the chance to learn firsthand how the city budget is made — by putting together a budget of their own with “Monopoly money.”
City Manager Sam Sanders will host three interactive community budget forums to educate the community about the city’s priorities and proposed budget for the 2027 fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2026 and ends June 30, 2027.
Every community member who attends will receive $10,000 in fake money to use in a budget priorities exercise. They’ll be asked to take a look at City Council’s strategic priorities, then allocate their money to the projects they think the city should prioritize in the coming year while keeping those priorities in mind. They will also have the opportunity to talk with city staff about individual city programs and services before deciding what to do with their money.
At the end of each night, city staff will take a look at all the decisions participants have made and present the results to the group, so that everyone can see what folks chose to prioritize, or not.
Take action
Learn about Charlottesville’s budgeting process and provide your input
Participate in one of three community budget forums held by Charlottesville’s city manager next week. There’s no need to sign up, just show up. City Council’s strategic priorities and the proposed budget for fiscal year2027 are online for anyone who wants to take a look in advance, or just learn more.
- Tues., Jan. 13, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., CitySpace, 100 5th St. NE (just off the Downtown Mall)
- Wed., Jan. 14, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Walker Upper Elementary School cafeteria, 1564 Dairy Rd.
- Thurs., Jan. 15, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Charlottesville Middle School cafeteria, 1000 Cherry Ave.
Once all three forums have happened, city staff will share the results with City Council as “a reflection of community priorities and input,” according to a city news release about the forums.
During the Jan. 5 City Council meeting, Sanders encouraged community members to attend to get a better idea of how complex — and how challenging — the budgeting process is year after year.
“I will show you very quickly that it is no fun,” he said. “You have hard decisions, you have choices, you have options, you have tensions, you have trade-offs, and you never have enough money to do everything you want to do.”
The budgeting process began last fall and lasts a few months. The City Manager will present a proposed budget to City Council during a public meeting in March, according to the city’s website. City Council will have at least two public hearings on the budget before voting on it.
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