Will cities ask citizens for input on spending billions in federal funds? Many are unsure. Updated 11:09 AM; Today 11:09 AM Hand sanitizer sits on a table next to the public comment microphone during the Portage Public Schools Board of Education work session at Portage Northern High School Auditorium in Portage, Michigan on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Joel Bissel | MLive.com)Joel Bissell | MLive.com Facebook Share Sometimes it’s the way government made a decision, not the decision itself, that frustrates constituents, said Jackson Mayor Derek Dobies. That’s why when he heard his city was slated to receive an estimated $32 million from the federal government, he assured residents early on the city wanted to hear how they think those dollars should be spent.