EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Mayor Stephanie Terry is offering Evansville residents a chance to have their voices heard in shaping the city’s budget for 2026. A Community Budget Forum is set to take place on Tuesday, April 15, at 5:30 p.m. in the Browning Room of the Central Library.
The event will begin with a presentation that provides an overview of the city’s budget process, explaining where funds come from and how decisions are made on their allocation. Following the presentation, attendees will participate in moderated group discussions to express their priorities for how taxpayer money should be spent in the upcoming budget.
In a statement, Mayor Terry highlighted the importance of involving the public early in the budgeting process. “When my administration went through our first budget process last year, I saw that public input often comes too late—after the full budget is presented to City Council,” she said. “We want to change that by creating opportunities for real dialogue early in the process. A transparent budget builds trust, and the best way to serve our residents is by listening to them.”
The forum is part of Mayor Terry’s effort to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent in a way that reflects the community’s needs. By allowing residents to participate in the early stages of budgeting, the mayor hopes to strengthen the connection between the city’s fiscal decisions and the priorities of its citizens.
The city’s official budgeting process will begin in May, but the forum offers an early opportunity for public involvement. Residents are encouraged to attend and engage in meaningful conversations about how their money should be invested in the future of Evansville.
