Outreach strategies designed to promote broad-
based participation in the annual budget process
across all Council Wards
FY 2025 - 2026FY 2025 - 2026
The purpose of community engagement is to obtain widespread input on Santa Ana’s budget priorities so the governing body has a full toolbox when allocating resources. This Community Engagement Plan proposes specific outreach strategies that promote broad participation in the annual budget development process across all Council Wards. The challenge is to make budget engagement exciting and captivating, so the community sees that input translates into action via the resource allocation process. This is done through activities that facilitate interaction, nuanced discussions, and budget simulation.
This plan is based on citywide best practices provided by the Government Finance Officers Association.
PURPOSE STATEMENT: THE WHYPURPOSE STATEMENT: THE WHY
1 DECEMBER, 2024CITY OF SANTA ANA FINANCE & MANAGEMENT SERVICES 2 Develop and publicize key budget items that show how budget spending impacts community goals.
OUR GOALSOUR GOALS
INCREASE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCESSIBILITY
STRENGTHEN TRUST
LEVERAGE VOICES FROM MARGINAZALIZED COMMUNITIES
ALIGN BUDGET TO REFLECT BUDGET PRIORITIES
Provide budget materials in multiple languages to ensure broader community access.
Simplify complex budget items and numbers for the general public.
Reduce barriers to engagement by leveraging the relationships local non-profits and neighborhood associations have throughout the community.
Broaden efforts to include renters, non-English speakers, and other historically disenfranchised groups.
Always close the feedback loop. Demonstrate how the allocation of resources aligns with community priorities. Utilize multiple methods of engagement so they complement one another. This should be a combination of informal and formal methods.
DECEMBER, 2024CITY OF SANTA ANA FINANCE & MANAGEMENT SERVICES COMBINATION OF 2 TYPES OF COMMUNITYCOMBINATION OF 2 TYPES OF COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENTENGAGEMENT
INFORMATIVE
PARTICIPATION
Goal: Share easy-to-
understand budget
information in popular
places.
Why It Matters: This
transparency helps you
understand how your tax
dollars are spent and your
input helps inform budget
decisions.
How We’ll Do It: Expect
simple budget breakdowns
on our city website, budget
news on social media, and
information in our city
newsletter.
Goal: Source your ideas
and feedback to create a
budget that truly
represents our community.
Why It Matters: Your input
directly influences city
spending, and online
options make it easier for
everyone to participate.
How You’ll Do It: Attend
community workshops,
speak at public budget
meetings, or fill out our
surveys online or on
paper.
PREPARATORY &
BUDGET
PARTICIPATION
3 DECEMBER, 2024CITY OF SANTA ANA FINANCE & MANAGEMENT SERVICES
COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENTENGAGEMENT
Santa Ana UnifiedSanta Ana Unified
School DistrictSchool District
(SAUSD),(SAUSD),
Santa Ana CollegeSanta Ana College
(SAC)(SAC)
City DepartmentsCity Departments
& Agencies,& Agencies,
Commissions &Commissions &
CommitteesCommittees
CivicCivic
Service ClubsService Clubs
Community Non-Community Non-
Profits,Profits,
Community Centers,Community Centers,
Churches, Schools,Churches, Schools,
NeighborhoodNeighborhood
Associations,Associations,
Com-LinkCom-Link
CitywideCitywide
EventsEvents
PUBLIC INPUTPUBLIC INPUT
4DECEMBER, 2024CITY OF SANTA ANA FINANCE & MANAGEMENT SERVICES Students, families, and educators are the heart of our schools, offering unique insights into the educational needs and aspirations of students.
Host public forums or workshops with Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) and Santa Ana College (SAC) to gather input on priorities and budget allocation.
Provide multilingual (English, Spanish & Vietnamese) materials and interpreters to ensure broad community participation.
Provide easy-to-understand presentations to clearly explain how financial resources are being used to support youth success and community development.
EDUCATIONEDUCATION
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
5 DECEMBER, 2024CITY OF SANTA ANA FINANCE & MANAGEMENT SERVICES We are requesting to speak about the budget as a guest speaker at various City Committee/ Commission meetings in February, March & April.
6 City departments connect us to our diverse community, offering unique channels to reach residents and gather invaluable input on budget priorities and civic initiatives.
Collaborate with City Manager’s Office of Public Information to advertise engagement efforts through press releases (English, Spanish & Vietnamese), social media ads, Nixle, digital marquees, City Hall lobby screens, & other display advertisements.
Tap into the City’s multiple social media platforms by collaborating with the most active departments that have the largest number of followers.
Promote community engagement through various city published newsletters such as:
City Manager’s Newsletter, Santa Ana Police Department, Library, Parks and Recreation, Economic Development, and Arts & Culture.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIESLOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES
CITY DEPARTMENTS & AGENCIES
COMMITEE/COMMISSION MEETINGS
DECEMBER, 2024CITY OF SANTA ANA FINANCE & MANAGEMENT SERVICES OPEN
!
BUSINESS & INDUSTRYBUSINESS & INDUSTRY
LOCAL BUSINESS & SERVICE CLUBS
!
7 DECEMBER, 2024CITY OF SANTA ANA FINANCE & MANAGEMENT SERVICES Connect with civic service clubs such as the Chamber of Commerce, the Lion’s Club, Elks Lodge, and the Rotary Club because they serve as excellent bridges between city government and the business community to gather diverse perspectives on our city's financial future.
Provide listening tours, where city officials visit local groups to discuss the budget, demonstrate the Budget Priorities survey, and gather input.
Invite representatives of each organization to participate in the public workshops and formal public hearings on the budget.
Ensure that community engagement efforts reach and adequately represent residents from all council wards. This means engaging with diverse voices from each area of the city to reflect the unique needs, priorities, and perspectives within each ward. 8 COMMUNITY SUPPORT GROUPSCOMMUNITY SUPPORT GROUPS
PARTNERSHIPS
COUNCIL WARD MEETINGS
DECEMBER, 2024CITY OF SANTA ANA FINANCE & MANAGEMENT SERVICES Local non-profit organizations are essential partners in our engagement efforts, providing connections to diverse communities and insights into the needs of our city's most vulnerable residents.
Partner with local non-profits to enhance community engagement and gather input. These organizations span areas such as youth development, senior services, immigrant and refugee support, educational and religious institutions, health outreach, and cultural advocacy.
Lunar New Year Festival - January 25, 2025Me Encanta Santa Ana - May 3, 2025
CIVIC ACTIVITIESCIVIC ACTIVITIES
CITYWIDE EVENTS
Lunar New Year Festival - January 25, 2025
Día de los Niños - April 27, 2025
EGG-Cellent Adventure - April 19, 2025
9 DECEMBER, 2024CITY OF SANTA ANA FINANCE & MANAGEMENT SERVICES Community events and organizations are essential in Santa Ana, fostering civic engagement and providing platforms for residents to shape our city's future from infrastructure to arts and culture.
The following upcoming events for Winter/Spring 2025 are:
Complete our Online / Paper Budget Priorities Survey!
Give us your feedback at our community workshops and
city meetings!
Contact us via email or by phone!
TOOLS & RESOURCESTOOLS & RESOURCES
(714) 647-5420
HELPFUL LINKS & INFORMATION
TOOLS TO PROVIDE INPUT
https://www.santa-ana.org/budget
CHECK OUT THESANTA ANA APP!
[email protected]
FY24-25Budget Details Local Sales TaxAccountability
10DECEMBER, 2024CITY OF SANTA ANA FINANCE & MANAGEMENT SERVICES