The trip north on Highway 101 to the Humboldt County seat of Eureka is a gorgeous drive. Towering redwoods and green ferns line the meandering road. But for county residents who want to attend a Board of Supervisors meeting to discuss the county budget, that trip could be anything but relaxing.

It’s no wonder Humboldt County faces the same challenge many local governments do throughout the state and nation: How to get more citizens engaged in the process. This is especially important for Humboldt County’s leadership when it comes to getting input on budget priorities. Experience shows that few people attend the daytime Board of Supervisors meetings and putting on a budget meeting roadshow throughout the five supervisorial districts at night is time-consuming and has yielded little.