The questions are painted in broad strokes, but the idea is clear. Looking at 17 specific policy areas, how would individuals balance the state's books. The non partisan group Next 10 is running the challenge for the fifth straight year in an effort to give people a chance to make the tough choices and then forward their ideas.
"Participants who do the California Budget Challenge have the opportunity with the stroke of a key, at the end of the challenge, to send that to their lawmakers, to send it to their friends, to send it to the governor," said Noel Perry, Next 10 founder.
300,000 people have taken part in the budget challenge during the past five years.
"Balance the budget, or put it into surplus or deficit," said Perry. "And the goal of the tool is to help Californians understand the difficult choices and the difficult tradeoffs involved in making decisions about the state budget."
The online survey can be done in as few as ten minutes. Results can then be emailed.
