Decide how a pretend community budget could be divided.
5-8 min
Free lesson
What you'll learn
Explain taxes neutrally
Connect taxes with public services
Taxes are money governments collect to help pay for public services and infrastructure. Public services can include roads, schools, libraries, parks, emergency services, and other community needs.
People can disagree about the best way to use public money. This lesson is only about the basic idea that a community budget has limited money and many possible uses.
Budgets have tradeoffs
If more money goes to one area, less may be left for another area unless the total budget changes.
Pretend community
A town has $100 in pretend public money. It must choose how to support services like roads, parks, libraries, and safety.
Interactive exercise
Build a community budget
You have $100 and must keep at least $10 unassigned for unexpected community needs.
Starting money
$100
Spent
$0
Remaining
$100
Nice planning. You still reached the savings target.
Lesson Progress
Finish the activity to complete this lesson.
2 On Finance provides general educational information and does not provide individualized financial, investment, tax, or legal advice.