RESIDENTS can have a go at seeing whether they can balance Winchester City Council finances with an interactive budget simulator that has just been launched.

The online budget simulator will allow people to balance a virtual council budget, registering their priorities for where money is spent and saved.

The simulator will also enable residents to give their ideas and approaches to balance the budget direct to the council.

Cllr Neil Cutler, deputy leader and cabinet member for finance and risk, said: “This isn’t an easy time for local government, as there are some significant financial challenges facing us. There will be tough decisions for the council to take over the coming years.

“The budget simulator will give us a sounding of residents views which we will take into account during the budget setting process. Please take a few minutes to have a go at balancing the budget.”

The simulator enables residents to change the levels of expenditure and saving across the main services the council provides and shows the impact of their choices. Data and feedback from all these activities will be reported during the budget setting process over the coming months

The simulator can be accessed at http://Winchester.budgetsimulator.com until Sunday September 29, 2019.