Participate in the Budget Process Online, County Opens Live Blog

Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners wants your questions and comments on the 2012 budget.

What services are important to you? What services are you willing to go without?

Tell commissioners how you want your tax dollars spent through an interactive eTownHall meeting hosted by Al Ruechel of Bay News 9 on Wednesday (April 6). You can blog, tweet or phone in your questions to county commissioners between 9 a.m. Monday (April  4) and 8 p.m. Wednesday (April 6). 

On Wednesday, commissioners and the city administrator, will answer questions submitted through Twitter and the blog between 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Citizens can access the eTownHall meeting online at www.pinellascounty.org/etownhall. 

Don’t have the Internet or access to a computer? Not to worry, they have you covered. Citizens can also participate by phone. Call in your question or listen to the event by calling (888) 886-6603, then enter conference number 16403#. 

“This really is a good chance for citizens to participate in their government and ask commissioners questions,” said Mary Burrell, county spokesperson. 

Commissioners need the public’s comments to prioritize and plan for next year’s shortfall. They encourage the public to participate in this live interactive meeting. 

“After five years of resizing as a result of ongoing revenue reductions, the county commissioners are continuing to look at efficiencies, potential reductions and eliminations to make up a predicted shortfall of $21.5 million,” according to a statement released by the county. 

Commissioners met publicly with citizens in two town hall meetings in March, now they are using the web to reach more people. 

The eTownHall meeting is the first for the interactive meeting between government and citizens in the region, county officials said.

Five Ways to Participate in the county’s eTownHall Budget 2012

1. Log onto Twitter. Tweets can be considered for the blog by entering a comment in the message field and including #pinellasbudget in the message. 
2. Blog on www.pinellascounty.org/etownhall. The blog opens at 9 a.m. Monday, April 4, for early questions and comments and will remain open through the live event on Wednesday evening. 
3. Call in during the event. To ask a question and to listen to the event, dial 888-886-6603, then enter conference number 16403#. In addition, 60,000 calls will be made at the beginning of the live event to invite residents to participate via telephone.
4. View the event at www.pinellascounty.org/etownhall. Email reminders will be sent to those who log onto the website and sign up early. The website also has information about the event and includes resources to learn more about the budget process. 
5. Watch the event live on PCC-TV, Bright House Channel 622, Knology Channel 18 or Verizon Channel 44. 

For more information, go to www.pinellascounty.org/etownhall, call 727-464-3000 or watch a video at http://www.youtube.com/pcctv1.

Get Access Through a Library Computer

Computers at the following library will be dedicated to the participation in the eTownHall event: 

1. Tarpon Springs Public Library: 138 E. Lemon St., Tarpon Springs, (727) 943-4922 www.tarponspringslibrary.org