Get over it.
Many people in the civic space we call “leaders” are budget administrators. Their talent is in negotiating and spending other people’s money. For many, asking the community for its perspectives is an unnecessary if not burdensome task they would rather avoid because they are not leaders in the sense of being skilled at authentic and complex facilitation and engagement.
In their defense, asking any diverse community for feedback is a Pandorian box that certainly can complexify what would otherwise be a more simple partisan job of budget administration. The good news for them is they get to exclude even the crankiest of communities from any substantive role in budget decisions, by reminding people in a double-chin tone that they hold very serious “fiduciary responsibilities.”
Many could have the following below their email signature:
We own the money. You don’t. Get over it.
