“Wants” and “needs.” It is budget crunch time in local government. Budget workshops are happening now and the most important decisions about the future of our area gets decided during these workshops. These are happening at the county level and on the municipal level. Many are happening next week.

If you are concerned about taxes, projects, services, now is the time to participate. The formal final budget meetings in September are too late, there is little to no opportunity to change what has been worked on for the six months up to those final meetings. You need to voice your concerns and preferences now. These workshops are admittedly boring to watch, and monotonous at times. But they govern where we are going for the next year and beyond.