In a Sept. 25 readers poll in Minot Daily News, the majority of respondents answered “No” to the question “Do you approve of the budget just approved by the Minot City Council?”

Two caveats should be kept in mind. One is that our reader polls are not scientific. Instead, they are a simple snapshot of what readers who opt to answer the question on any given day feel. Two is that even though the majority answered in the negative, it was not by overwhelming numbers with 60 percent.

At the same time readers have opinions on the budget – positive and negative – public turnout in person at city council meetings during which the budget is being discussed is minimal (as is the case with most city council meetings) and historically there has been little public input during the course of these meetings.

Yes, council meetings from chambers are streamed and can be seen via both Facebook and YouTube, so interested parties can watch from the comfort of their homes. Both mediums permit comments and city staff don’t remove comments. How many comments has depended on the content of the meetings. Some discussions simply draw more discourse online than others.

How many people watch the entirety of council meetings when the budget is being discussed is unknown. The same is true when it comes to how many people access the written budget and review it.

Still, the small number of people attending such meetings, where they can experience and take part in the whole discussion is disappointing. Municipal finance is quite complex and often those most skilled in it – in our case, the administration – need time to review the many aspects. The public certainly deserves all of the information and to be able to ask questions, and when this administration has been in that position they have generally been perfectly willing to address those questions.

Whether it’s the city, county or the park board budget with which you are concerned or which you support, if it’s important to you, then tune in and speak up through any of the means available.

As Margaret Mead asserted, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”