How to testify at a City Council Budget hearing | Boston.gov

HOW TO TESTIFY AT A CITY COUNCIL BUDGET HEARINGYou are hereHOME › DEPARTMENTS › CITY COUNCIL › FY2023 CITY COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE BUDGET REVIEWLast updated: 4/22/22We encourage the public to weigh in during the City Council budget review process. Below are the options for sharing your thoughts on the record:hidePublic testimony optionsSTEP1CHOOSE HOW YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATEThere are a few different ways that you can put your testimony on the record. You can:send an emailrecord and submit a video, orparticipate in person or virtually via Zoom.All formal testimony, written or spoken, that is provided in another language will be accepted and translated for the benefit of the City Council. Speakers testifying live are welcome to bring another person to translate their testimony in English in real time. You will be accorded extra time if you choose to do so.  All speakers are welcome to testify in their preferred language, however, even if without interpretation. The City Council will ensure translation after the fact.STEP2SEND US AN EMAILYou can email public testimony on any aspect of the budget. Please include in your message the topic or department you want to discuss, along with your name and affiliation. Written testimony will be made a part of the hearing file and made available to all councilors.Email the committee directly at ccc.wm@boston.gov or the Director of Legislative Budget Analysis, michelle.a.goldberg@boston.gov.You can reach all City Councilors at city.council@boston.gov. You can also send your email to a specific councilor. You can find their contact information in their profiles.STEP3RECORD AND UPLOAD A VIDEORecord a two-minute video of your testimony regarding any aspect of the budget. After you finish recording your video, complete our form to submit your video for an upcoming hearing:If your video is submitted more than two (2) business days in advance of the relevant departmental or public testimony hearing, it will be played then.If your video is submitted later, it will be played during the next dedicated public testimony hearing.VIDEO TESTIMONY ONLINE FORMSTEP4OR TESTIFY LIVEThe public can also testify at budget review hearings in person or via Zoom. Public testimony will be taken at the end of each departmental hearing, and at two dedicated public testimony hearings. Check the budget review schedule.If you would like to testify in person, please join us in the Iannella Chamber, Fifth Floor, Boston City Hall during the hearing where you’d like to testify. Sign up on the sheet near the chamber entrance when you arrive.If you would like to testify virtually, sign up in advance using the link below. After you have signed up, we will provide you with the hearing’s Zoom link. Participants will be called in the order they signed up.SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONYIf testifying virtually, you will need to download Zoom in advance. Please make sure you are signed into Zoom with the full name you signed up with, so we can call on you appropriately. You will be granted access to your microphone when you are called to speak. Please keep your testimony to under two minutes.Anyone looking to watch the hearing virtually, but not testify, should follow along on our livestream. Anyone is also welcome to come watch in person.CONTACT:

How to testify at a City Council Budget hearing | Boston.gov