The word or phrase that would BEST improve the connections between the two underlined sentences by indicating that what is to come builds upon the information presented is A. For instance.
So it would read: "We, the citizens of this community, should have a say in how those funds are applied to educate the youth of this town. For instance, some people are arguing for the construction of a new football stadium."
This transition clearly indicates that the examples that follow illustrate the point made in the first sentence.