Assess students' ability (Grades 3–5) to evaluate and justify how a small town should allocate a limited community budget among three options—building a playground, expanding the public library, or repairing roads. Tasks include identifying stakeholders and needs, estimating and comparing simple costs, weighing short- and long-term benefits (safety, learning, recreation, accessibility), considering equity and maintenance trade-offs, and producing a clear evidence-based recommendation using basic arithmetic and reasoned argumentation.