The City of Erie is giving residents the opportunity to have their voices heard when it comes to how the city spends their tax dollars.

A member of the Booker T. Washington Center said it’s important for a community-based organization to advocate for continued funding for the youth.

A proposed annual action plan for the fiscal year of 2024 is being planned by the City of Erie.

The city will apply for Community Development Block Grant funds, Home Investment Partnership funds, and Emergency Solutions Grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

But to determine where these funds will go, public input is being welcomed.

“We want input from them to allow us to know what they believe is needed in the community and we try to adhere to those things,” said Debra Smith, director of economic and community development for the City of Erie.

City of Erie Mayor Joe Schember said the city only has a ballpark number of funds but this step within the process is critical for citizens to have input into what will be done.

“We want to do what’s best for the community and that’s what we hear from the people that will be here today,” he said.

One of those heard today is a representative of the Booker T. Washington Center about why it’s so important to invest in the youth of today.

“We understand the city has a lot to do with the funds that they do receive but it’s important from a community-based organization to come and speak the importance of funding for our youth,” said Shantel Hilliard, executive director of the Booker T. Washington Center.

“Without these centers, a lot of our families and a lot of our youth would be in at-risk situations so it’s important for us to come and speak and let the city know the importance of continuing the funding for our organizations,” she explained.

Smith said the new five-year consolidated plan that’s approaching could propose different needs but an effort will be made to address them.

“We’ll meet with focus groups, stakeholders, citizens neighborhood watches. You know, we’ll want to get everybody involved so hopefully, the information that we receive from our upcoming 2025 plan will be information that’s valuable for the community,” Smith went on to say.

The second public meeting took place on Monday, April 15.