Increased Trust Between Government and its Citizens.

• In comparison with the federal government, Americans still trust local governments more, but this trust may be waning. Indeed, in interviews with local officials and city agencies, trust was often pointed to as one of the most important metrics that can assess citizen efficacy and engagement in local government.

More Efficient and Equitable Allocation of Resources.

• The process of local government budgeting is opaque, and perhaps necessarily so: citizens are not always aware of the intricacies that go into a city budget. However, there is an opportunity to further involve citizens in the decision-making process through the prioritization of budgetary line items in a city.

Higher Turnout in Local Elections.

• Many local officials know the importance of voting and registration, especially at the local level, and also acknowledged the very low levels of turnout. Engaging citizens in local governmental processes beyond voting, like participation in commissions, budgeting processes, and developing relationships with public officials, will only lead to higher voter participation rates. 

More Equitable Economic Outcomes.

• Research has started to demonstrate that “high levels of democratic participation are associated with more equal distributions of income.” Because voter participation, and formal democratic engagement, is often correlated with income, ensuring that a more diverse cross-section of citizens participate can ensure that governments are more effectively incorporating their perspectives in decision-making.

More Effective Transparency in the Decision Making Process.

• Multiple studies have demonstrated that transparency without intentionality can lead to negative perceptions of local government. The answer to this challenge, however, is not to restrict access to information. Instead, it is to ensure that citizens are more engaged and knowledgeable on local government writ large. When citizens are engaged substantively in local government processes, enhanced transparency leads to more trust.

More Stakeholders Involved in Local Government.

• If a government truly wants to practice democracy, it is imperative to ensure that as many stakeholders as possible are truly involved in local government.