You do not need to be an accountant to ask a good budget question. I use three.
1. What is the money for?
A line can be for people, equipment, a contract, or a project. Find the service behind it. If the City plans to buy a tool, what work will it help staff do? If a park project is funded, what will residents see and when?
2. What changed?
Look at last year's amount and the new amount. A large jump deserves a clear reason. Maybe costs rose, a one-time project was added, or last year's estimate was too low. I do not start by assuming the answer is bad. I ask for it.
3. How will we know it worked?
A budget is a plan. Later, we need the follow-up: Did the work happen? What did it cost? If it is delayed, what is the new date? That last question turns a budget promise into accountability.
The City's budget page includes the FY 2027 adopted book. Pick one topic you care about and try these questions. You can send me the page and line item if you want me to ask for more detail. Please include the document name and page number so we are looking at the same thing. City budgets can be long enough without playing hide-and-seek with a number.
Sources and next steps
These are my District 1 views and general information. City notices and records control when an official action or deadline changes.