If citizen participation is considered a desirable aspect of good government, how should it be done? This article asks what method is most effective for regular citizen input into policy-making at the local government level from the perspective of government officials using the budget process as an example. City and county managers and budget staff across North Carolina were surveyed on this issue in 1998. While there was no consensus on a practice clearly to adopt or avoid, there was a clear theme concerning approach early and often. The method is found not to be as important as how it is applied. Recommendations for practitioners and researchers are discussed.
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