Columbia’s Fourth ward councilman praises the city for organizing recent budget town hall meetings at city hall.
Councilman Nick Foster tells 939 the Eagle that the town halls helped residents understand budget challenges the council faces each year:
“I think it’s a great example of how the city is making efforts really to communicate more and better overall with everything that we do,” Foster says.
Columbia residents from all ages turned out for recent budget town hall meetings at city hall. Second ward city council member Vera Elwood is thrilled to see the interest in budget issues:
“I love seeing the representation in this audience of people who care deeply enough to learn the sometimes boring side of how the city functions,” Elwood tells 939 the Eagle.
The town halls also gave residents an opportunity to work in groups and act essentially as council members, trying to approve a balanced budget.