Add and Edit Budget - Open Value Questions in Engagement Questionnaires

Collect flexible budget allocation input from residents by adding budget - open value questions to your engagement questionnaires. These questions allow respondents to allocate any amount they choose across multiple municipal priorities using slider controls, providing insight into relative spending preferences without fixed budget constraints.

Quick Steps

1. Navigate to Ask > Surveys > Build select your survey
   
   
2. Drag "Budget - Open Value" from the Content sidebar under "NUMERIC"
3. Drop the question into your desired position in the questionnaire
4. Configure question text, budget parameters, and budget items in the modal that opens automatically
   
   
5. Click "Save" to apply changes and see the in-builder preview

In-Depth Guide

Adding a New Budget - Open Value Question

Access the Questionnaire Builder Navigate to the Engage section and go to the Activities listing screen. Find your engagement questionnaire and select "Edit" to open the Questionnaire Builder interface.

Add the Budget - Open Value Question From the Content sidebar on the right, locate "Budget - Open Value" under the "NUMERIC" section. Drag the Budget - Open Value element and drop it into your questionnaire at the desired position.

The questionnaire builder will display a drop zone where you can position your new question. Release the Budget - Open Value element when the drop zone appears in your preferred location.

Configure Question Settings Once you drop the Budget - Open Value element into your questionnaire, the configuration modal automatically opens. Enter your question text in the main question field. Write clear questions that explain the budget allocation scenario. For example, "Use the sliders to indicate your preferred spending levels for each municipal service area."

Add Support Text (Optional) Use the Support Text field to provide additional context about the budget scenario, comparison basis, or background information. This text appears below the main question and can explain the purpose of the allocation exercise or provide relevant context.

Set Budget Parameters Configure the budget framework for your question:

• Unit Label: Set the currency symbol or unit (defaults to "$")
• Budget Cap: Set the total budget amount for reference
• Comparison Value Label: Add a label for comparison context (e.g., "Previous year")

Create Budget Items In the "Options" section, create the spending categories that respondents can allocate funds toward. For each budget item, configure:

• Budget Item Title: The name or title of the spending category
• Description: Optional explanation of what this budget item covers
• Min Value: Minimum allowable allocation for this item
• Max Value: Maximum allowable allocation for this item
• Slider Step Size: The increment amount for slider adjustments
• Starting Value: Default amount when the question loads
• Comparison Value: Reference amount for comparison (e.g., previous year's allocation)
• Include an Image: Upload an optional image to visually represent the budget item
• Mandatory Option: Toggle to prevent participants from changing this item's value

Use the "Add Option" button to include additional budget items as needed.

Configure Advanced Settings Several toggle options allow you to customize the question behavior:

• Unit and Comparison Labels Display: Choose to show labels "As a Header" or "On Each Item"
• Enforce Budget Cap: Requires that the total allocation does not exceed the budget cap amount
• Randomize Options: Presents budget items in random order to each respondent to reduce order bias
• Required Question: Makes the budget allocation question mandatory for questionnaire submission

Save Your Configuration After configuring all settings, budget parameters, and budget items, click "Save" to apply your changes. The modal will close and you'll see an in-builder preview of your budget allocation question within the questionnaire.

Editing Existing Budget - Open Value Questions

Locate and Select the Question In the Questionnaire Builder, find the budget - open value question you want to modify. Click on the edit icon on the question block to open the configuration modal and access all editing options.

Modify Question Content Update the question text, support text, budget cap, unit label, or comparison label as needed. You can also add, remove, or modify budget items using the provided controls. Click "Save" to apply your changes and close the configuration modal. Once saved, you'll see an in-builder preview of your updated question.

Manage Budget Items Add new budget items, remove existing ones, or modify titles, descriptions, value ranges, starting values, and images. Ensure that your budget items collectively represent meaningful allocation choices for respondents.

Adjust Response Settings Modify settings like budget cap enforcement, label display options, randomization, or mandatory options based on how you want respondents to interact with the budget allocation. Consider how these changes might affect the user experience and data collection.

Reorder Questions Reposition budget - open value questions within your questionnaire flow using two methods:

• Drag-and-drop: Click and hold the question block, then drag it to a new position. The questionnaire will show drop zones indicating valid placement locations.
• Toolbar: Use the reordering options available in the question's toolbar for precise positioning.

Remove Questions To delete a budget - open value question, use the delete option in the question's toolbar. The question will be removed immediately without a confirmation prompt.

Question Design Best Practices

Set Appropriate Value Ranges Configure min/max values that reflect realistic spending ranges for each budget item. Consider the scale and scope of each category when setting these bounds.

Choose Meaningful Step Sizes Set slider step sizes that allow for precision without overwhelming respondents with too many options. Larger step sizes work well for high-value items.

Provide Comparison Context Use comparison values and labels to help respondents understand current spending levels or reference points for their allocation decisions.

Use Starting Values Strategically Set starting values that represent current allocations, neutral midpoints, or other meaningful reference points rather than leaving all sliders at zero.

Consider Slider Usability Ensure that the combination of min/max values and step sizes creates a manageable number of slider positions for good user experience.

Methodology

Slider-Based Allocation Respondents use slider controls to set allocation amounts for each budget item. The system captures the exact values selected and can calculate totals and proportions across items.

Value Range Enforcement The sliders enforce the min and max values configured for each budget item, preventing respondents from selecting amounts outside the specified ranges.

Budget Cap Handling When budget cap enforcement is enabled, the system prevents total allocations from exceeding the specified cap amount, providing real-time feedback to respondents.

Comparison Value Display Comparison values appear alongside current allocations to provide context and reference points for respondent decision-making.

Mandatory Options Processing When budget items are marked as mandatory with locked values, respondents cannot modify these items, and they're excluded from interactive allocation.

Order Randomization When randomization is enabled, each respondent sees budget items in a different random order. The actual budget item content and values remain unchanged, only the presentation order varies.

Language Support Budget - open value questions support multi-language engagement questionnaires when configured. Question text, support text, budget item details, and labels are translated, while numerical values remain consistent.

Edge Cases, Exceptions & Known Issues

Drag and Drop Functionality

• Questions must be dropped in valid drop zones within the questionnaire area
• Dropping questions outside the builder area will not add them to your questionnaire

Budget Cap Enforcement

• When enforcement is enabled, respondents may need to adjust multiple sliders to stay within the cap
• Budget cap enforcement with mandatory locked items may create allocation constraints
• Very restrictive caps relative to minimum values may create impossible allocation scenarios

Slider Interface Limitations

• Very wide value ranges with small step sizes may create sliders that are difficult to use precisely

Value Range Conflicts

• Minimum values that sum to more than the budget cap create impossible scenarios
• Maximum values set too low may not allow meaningful differentiation between priorities
• Conflicting min/max ranges across items may limit realistic allocation options

Mandatory Options Behavior

• Mandatory items with locked values reduce the available budget for other items when caps are enforced
• Multiple mandatory items may consume significant portions of available allocation flexibility
• Mandatory options prevent respondents from expressing preferences about those specific items

Questionnaire Flow Considerations

• Budget questions with many items and sliders may require more time and cognitive effort
• Complex allocation scenarios may benefit from placement after context-building questions
• Multiple budget questions in sequence may cause respondent fatigue

Data Analysis Considerations

• Starting values may bias initial allocations if respondents don't adjust all sliders
• Budget cap enforcement affects whether data represents constrained or unconstrained preferences