Saratoga Springs has a unique way of doing things when it comes to government.

Its commission form of government, in which elected officials represent a function of government rather than a geographic area, came about from efforts to rebuild a Texas community after a major hurricane 125 years ago. Very few cities use the system, but it works for Saratoga Springs.

Another unusual yet somehow workable initiative is the city’s “participatory budgeting” program. Participatory budgeting. Kind of has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? And for good reason.

What participatory budgeting does is it gives members of the community a direct say in how to spend a small portion of the city........

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