ClearGov launches AI platform to help cities explain budgets to residents
ClearGov released an AI-powered platform designed to translate municipal budget data into interactive summaries and visuals that residents can understand. The Financial Engagement platform also gives city finance teams insights into what constituents value and expect from their budgets.
Rochester Hills, Michigan; Cleveland; Placer County, California; and Southwest Public Libraries in Ohio tested the platform in an early adopter program.
What the platform does
The system turns dense budget documents into interactive charts and plain-language summaries. It includes an AI chatbot that answers resident questions about spending, and it provides two-way feedback channels through web portals and text messaging.
Cities can deploy polls, surveys, and open-ended questions to gather resident input on budget priorities.
What Rochester Hills learned
Rochester Hills officials wanted to reach residents who don't attend city council meetings. "We do have those members from the public that seem to come to every single council meeting and have their opinions, but that's really the vocal minority," said Joe Snyder, the city's CFO. "We really wanted to get a better sense of the silent majority of residents that are out there."
The city deployed the platform's AI chatbot to field questions about its 300-page budget. Within weeks, it received hundreds of resident comments spanning roads, public safety, and parks.
The feedback revealed a specific gap: residents wanted better pathways near schools. The platform helped the city convert raw budget data into what Mayor Bryan Barnett called "a meaningful conversation" with constituents.
Why this matters for communicators
Public trust in government AI remains low. A survey last year found that half of U.S. residents feel uncomfortable with how government uses the technology.
The Rochester Hills case shows one way to address that concern: use AI to make government operations more transparent and to listen to residents, rather than simply automating decisions behind closed doors. For PR and communications professionals in local government, the platform offers a practical tool for reaching audiences that traditional channels miss.
The city's year-round platform remains available to residents, creating an ongoing feedback mechanism rather than a one-time communication event.
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