A special forum held today will offer citizens in East Lansing the chance to voice their concerns regarding the effects of the state budget cuts.

The forum will be held at 1 p.m. in the Children's Room of the East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbott Road. City Manager Ted Staton said it will be used to discuss how cuts to the city's revenue-sharing funding could affect the quality of life in the city.

The discussion comes on the heels of Gov. Jennifer Granholm's announcement of a $920 million state budget shortfall, with revenue-sharing funding being a top priority to hit the chopping block.

Cuts to revenue sharing - money earned from state taxes that is given back to the community - would affect every city in Michigan, said Mike Brady, director of state and federal affairs for the Michigan Municipal League. City services such as public safety, road repair, library funding and programs for children and senior citizens could be affected if revenue-sharing dollars are slashed.

"We need to continue to make our citizens aware of the kind of decisions the governor is contemplating," Staton said. "We're trying to call attention to how revenue sharing affects their ability to receive basic services."

Members of the Municipal League had encouraged cities across the state to designate today as a day to discuss how revenue-sharing cuts will affect them. Brady said he anticipates more than 50 cities to participate.

Brady said most residents don't know what revenue sharing is, and he hopes many will get a chance to learn more on the issue and state their concerns regarding the situation.

"The goal of the event is to explain to the cities exactly what this money is and what it does," Brady said. "We want to educate the public on that and explain what cities will be cutting."