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University of Michigan students to help Brighton create a user-friendly financial report
Summary
Brighton will partner with University of Michigan public policy students to convert the city's complex annual consolidated financial report into a clearer 'popular annual financial report' (PAFR); students will engage the public and staff and present their findings to council.
City manager Gomolka announced that the University of Michigan Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy will assign a group of master's students to a semester-long project to create a popular annual financial report (PAFR) based on Brighton's annual consolidated financial report. The students will review the city's financials, work with finance staff (Liz) and management assistant Joe, engage the public through outreach, and deliver a draft template that staff and council will review before a public presentation.
Gomolka said the arrangement gives students 'real-world' experience and the city an opportunity to produce a more accessible financial summary for residents and business owners. The students will meet with staff the same week and plan public engagement events during the semester. Gomolka said the city will have the chance to review and approve material before students present to council and expressed hope that the template could be shared with other communities statewide.
Council members welcomed the collaboration, noting the benefits of exposing public-policy students to local government while improving financial transparency for residents.
No formal council action was required; staff will coordinate student meetings and public engagement over the coming weeks.
