

A LEGO person drinks from a teeny-tiny LEGO cup. Itty-bitty garbage trucks pick up trash as a little LEGO police officer chats with a LEGO citizen. A teensy LEGO construction worker uses a cute jackhammer to fix the LEGO road. What does all this have do with city budgeting?
Jay Warren, Director of Communication and Legislative Affairs for the city of Arlington, Texas, loves LEGO bricks. He has built a LEGO city over several tabletops in his game room. “It’s a hobby,” Mr. Warren tells NBC DFW, “one that I’ve had since I was a kid.” Now all grown up, Mr. Warren’s job is to explain to Arlingtonians how the city spends the dollars they pay in taxes.
City videographers stopped in at Mr. Warren’s house. They found the LEGO city ready for filming. They used stop motion animation to make a four-and-a-half-minute LEGO video explaining the city budget.
“I love my city,” says a LEGO woman in the video. While she speaks, we get views of Mr. Warren’s LEGO city: streets, cars, buildings, a playground with flowers and trees, a café, the inside of a library, and more. “It has great parks for my kids, safe neighborhoods with friendly people, good libraries, and smooth roads.” Then Ms. LEGO asks, “How does all that get done?”
“Good question,” answers a LEGO man. “Keeping a city running takes a lot of work, and it starts with the annual budget. Just like with LEGOs, the parts of the city’s budget come in a lot of shapes, sizes, and colors . . . .”
Why budget? Money is hard to earn and easy to spend. Keeping careful track of it helps it go further. Plus, God cares about how we use money. He owns all the wealth in the world, and entrusts nations, states, cities, families, and individuals with just a little of His treasure. Their job is to steward what He has given in a way that blesses others and gives Him glory.
Good budgeters track where every dollar goes. A national budget decides how much money in taxes will be collected. It designates how much will go to the military for people’s protection, how much will be spent on highways and hospitals, and how much will support people in need. States budget for schools, hospitals, roads, police, courts, and housing. Families budget for electricity, heat, internet, food, giving, clothes, insurance, cars, house payments or rent, medical services, education, vacations, savings . . . and much more. Remember: God doesn’t give us things mainly so we can have them. He gives to us so we can share with others—just like He does with us.
What does a city budget have to include? The video shows: clean water, trash pickup, police, firefighters, road work, and more. Now that’s fun budgeting!
Why? Budgeting matters for citizenship on Earth and in heaven. God cares about how we steward what He entrusts to us.
Hi
that is so cool.
Is the video public?
I would like to see it even though I don’t live in Texas, if someone could reply with a YouTube link if there is one?
@ Logan A
You can't post links in the comments
Thanks!
Ok, I didn’t know. Thanks!
@Seth W
Actually you can
@Hesperus
I know you can, but only links from worldteen
@Hesperus
like this https://teen.wng.org/node/7165 see my comment on this
Is the video on YouTube
Does anyone know just the title of the video so I can look it up on YouTube or any other place?
LEGO Video
I would like to watch that LEGO video too.
This is Mylee
Build,unite,create:Using Lego blocks to explain arlingtons FY 2022 Budget. Is what the title is called it is the city of arlingtons youtube. I have been to arlington several times manly for six flags or something. But this is cool how they are doing stuff with there taxes and budgeting stuff. But the only thing was our friends moved from arlington bc they had a crazy nieghbor who shot the lady (who was pregnant) In the stomach. And threatened them many time...... IN the vid they said they had safe nieghborhoods maybe they tried to help that ...
Lego Vid
Its on youtube I watched it
Lego Vid
Its on youtube I watched it
@Above
@Mylee: Oh that is so sad!
I outgrew LEGO's a few years ago, but this is a cool idea!
555
i cant believe that now i wish i had a lego city
This is Mylee
@Colsen are you new ? If you aren't sorry for not noticing. But Welcome to World Teen. P.s. I have a brother named Kolsen.
lego vid
I saw it too.
lego vid
I saw it too.
lego vid
I saw it too.
lego vid
I saw it too.
This is JENNA
AYYY Lego for the win! I still have my Legos though not as impress as this city model!
legos!
i LOVE Legos!!!!!!!!! So Cool.
I am only 16 years old and I
I am only 16 years old and I have over 50 gallons of LEGO, and I am no where near done collecting!!!!!
P.s. does anyone collect GI Joe??
@Marvin
Funny thing is, I'm 16 as well and I love Legos. Just out of curiosity, what is your favorite thing to build? Mine are Lego mechs. There is a difference between mechs and robots. Robots are fully autonomous, while mechs are piloted.
@Mylee/Twins
Yes I am new. But I have probably commented on at least 10 articles
This is Mylee
@Colsen ok sorry I don't really comment on the articles just groups and news bites XD
@Marvin S and Ranen H
Just a reminder, it says to keep your ages private. :) I know though that sometimes we can get carried away and forget! :) I used to love LEGO's but I have outgrown them and even if I did still like them, I never have time to play with them.
I like playing with legos too
I like playing with legos too but there not my favorite
LEGOs are one of the best
LEGOs are one of the best toys. My favorite thing to build now is LEGO Architecture.
@RANEN H
I mostly build LEGO star ships and mechs (most of my builds consists of 500 or 2,000 bricks). I have to get inspiration by watching movies or going to the library. I think LEGO bricks are a great way to depict architecture. This article is Marvin approved!!!!!!
Awesome
I love Legos.