Town Council Meetings
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K‐12 Civic Learning Opportunities What’s Important to my Government? Ever wonder what's considered to be most important to your government? Check out the budgets! That's where government leaders, policymakers and citizens work together establish funding priorities. Budget process When do governments make their budgets? For local governments, budgeting is done in the winter and spring. Usually they establish goals and strategies in the winter, and then from there the lead administrator (the county, city or town manager or school superintendent) works with staff to develop a recommended budget. The recommended budget is just that ‐ a recommendation from the manager, with input from government departments, policymakers and data from goals, past results, community needs and other information. A big factor is how much money is available to spend on budget items. From there, the elected officials take a look at the budget, discuss it, give the public a chance to weigh in, and discuss it some more. The city, county and town budgets are adopted, or enacted into law, by June 30 of each year. Charlotte‐Mecklenburg Schools' budget is handled a little bit the same and a little bit differently, in part because CMS is funded through other governments (as opposed to being able to tax citizens ‐ like the county, city, state and federal governments do ‐ to get money to pay for their services). School district leaders create a recommended budget. The school board and public have opportunities to weigh in, and then the school board approves its budget request. Once the county and state decide how much money is available in their own budgets, the schools receive an appropriation, which may be the same as, more than, or less than their budget request. Different kinds of services A government funds different kinds of services. Some are mandated, and some are discretionary. Mandated Defined by law (NC or federal law, or interest payments) Means this service must be provided and at a specific level Discretionary © GenerationNation | www.generationnation.org K‐12 Civic Learning Opportunities Service does not have to be provided, but is done so as a service to the community Some are both mandated and discretionary Service must be provided; level can fluctuate Examples Mandatory: build and maintain schools, roads and jails Discretionary: build and operate libraries, neighborhood improvements, and parks Objective and Activities There are many opportunities for writing, reading, small group discussion and oral presentation. The activity aligns with several core standards. Skills include: Persuasion Media literacy communication Critical thinking Collaboration Teamwork Analysis Civic leadership Math Reading information Local and State Group discussion Government Active listening Connecting historic Writing Federal Government events, personal Effective knowledge, current Civic literacy events or global life Local and state government budgeting is a civic learning opportunity. Students learn about the roles and services of government, evaluate community priorities and needs, and examine the roles of citizens and leaders in the process. A variety of activities are available. Modify based on your grade level or subject area. For example, you can focus students on the community, North Carolina, the United States or another country. © GenerationNation | www.generationnation.org Web resources Lessons and activities, with Common Core and NC correlations http://www.generationnation.org/index.php/learn/entry/whats‐important‐to‐my‐government Make your voice heard! My Wish or Idea for my Community http://www.generationnation.org/documents/MyWish_andIdeas.pdf Learn about local governments in Charlotte‐Mecklenburg http://www.generationnation.org/index.php/learn/entry/local‐government‐who‐does‐what How do budgets compare at the city, county and towns? http://www.generationnation.org/documents/budgetcomp_localgovt.pdf Role play commissioners and departments to create your own Mecklenburg County budget http://www.generationnation.org/documents/MeckCountybudgetexercise1.pdf Contact officials to make your voice heard on budget decisions and government priorities http://www.generationnation.org/documents/LocalGovt_whodoeswhat.pdf Teens ‐ get involved in the Charlotte‐Mecklenburg Youth Council http://generationnation.org/index.php/youthvoice Make your own federal budget with People's Pie http://www.icivics.org/games/peoples‐pie Create a county budget Counties Work http://www.icivics.org/games/counties‐work1 Build NC's budget and explore state services and funding with Civic Education Consortium http://www.civics.org © GenerationNation | www.generationnation.org More activities WHAT’S FOR KIDS? Which government services impact children and youth? How time do public officials spend on these issues? How much money is budgeted? Is the emphasis on adult issues? Why or why not? WRITE THE HEADLINE Follow the government budget process. What do you think the news headline will be? Now, read actual titles or headlines. One easy way to do this is through local news media. Were you close? Is your headline or title better? Why? Sometimes there will be many headlines and titles, with each one saying something completely different. Why do you think that is? COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY Watch a video of a city council, county commission, or school board meeting about the budget. How do public officials communicate information? Are they persuasive? How? What do you think is the most effective? Least? Do governments have a need to communicate effectively? How do they do this? © GenerationNation | www.generationnation.org Local Government Priorities Who spends what in local government? Find out, and compare! Budget information: http://www.generationnation.org/index.php/learn/entry/local‐government‐who‐does‐what CHARLOTTE MECKLENBURG COUNTY Total budget $ Property tax rate Expenditures Education Health Housing/neighborhoods Jobs (economic development) Parks and recreation Planning Public safety Public works Social services Streets and transportation Stormwater/sewer/utilities Tourism/culture Government services Other: Total www.GenerationNation.org Local Government Priorities Who spends what in local government? Find out, and compare! Budget information: http://www.generationnation.org/index.php/learn/entry/local‐government‐who‐does‐what CORNELIUS DAVIDSON HUNTERSVILLE MATTHEWS MINT HILL PINEVILLE Total budget $ Property tax rate Expenditures Education Health Housing/neighborhoods Jobs (economic development) Parks and recreation Planning Public safety Public works Social services Streets and transportation Stormwater/sewer/utilities Tourism/culture Government services Other: Total www.GenerationNation.org LOCAL GOVERNMENT: WHO DOES WHAT Government Services Elected Appointed City of Charlotte City Services City Council and Mayor City Manager Community Health and Safety Mayor Key administrative officer of the #cltcc Police, Fire/Emergency Services, ‐ Presides at City Council meetings, votes city Animal Control, Water/Sewer, in the event of a tie, has veto authority City Council (includes Mayor) Garbage, Yard Waste, Recycling ‐ With City Council, is responsible for Carries out the City Council's establishing the general policies under policy decisions, provides vision Interim City Manager – Ron Kimble Transportation which the City operates and leadership, oversees daily [email protected] CATS, LYNX, Airport ‐ Chief spokesperson for the City, operations of City government. represents city at ceremonies and events Infrastructure (local, state, national, international) www.charlottenc.gov Build/maintain city streets, streetlights, sidewalks Council More information ‐ Establishes general policies for City www.generationnation.org/learn Planning and Development (with mayor) Land use, Zoning, Neighborhood ‐ Appoints positions including City Development, Economic Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk, Development/Jobs Boards and Commissions members ‐ Reviews annual budget, sets tax rate, approves financing of all City operations. ‐ Enacts ordinances, orders (laws at local level such as graffiti, noise, curfew) Mayor and Council Partisan office (run as Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, etc.) 2‐year term Next election: 2017 Council includes 4 members by city‐wide vote (at‐large) and 7 members from districts by voters who reside in each district Visit GenerationNation’s Learning Center for links, info, activities and more: www.generationnation.org Government Services Elected Appointed Towns of Cornelius, Davidson, Town Services Town Council and Mayor (Town Town Manager Huntersville, Matthews, Mint Hill, Board) Pineville Services include Town Board Administers town policies and Towns: Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Police, planning/zoning, garbage ‐ Establishes priorities on community manages town government. Matthews, Mint Hill, Pineville pickup, Fire/EMS, Parks/Rec/Cultural needs, sets policy, establishes the Usually a full‐time paid position. Arts, streets, sidewalks, stormwater budget, levies taxes, creates ordinances, Town Councils include mayors and town hires/evaluates/fires Town Manager. boards Each town has a manager Mayor ‐ Presides at Town Board meetings, votes www.cornelius.org in the event of a tie, has veto authority www.ci.davidson.nc.us ‐ With Town Council, is responsible for www.huntersville.org establishing the general policies under www.matthewsnc.gov which the Town operates www.minthill.com ‐ Chief spokesperson and represents www.townofpineville.com town