The National League of Cities has issued their findings from
the
2013
Local Economic Conditions (LEC) survey, in a comprehensive four-part
series. This is such an important report to understand thoroughly in order to
come to terms with the fiscal reality of our communities, and then, perhaps
most importantly, determine what we’re going to do about it.
If the LEC survey produced one key sentence to us at CPBB
it is this: “city officials will
continue to focus on core areas of local government that protect the welfare
and safety of residents while increasing their focus on areas that create new
jobs and revenue.”
For as unyielding as this continued economic downturn
continues to be, the fundamental issue remains to be: how will we focus on our
core areas of service? How do we still provide the vital services to our
communities, despite our relentless fiscal challenges?
At the
Center for Priority Based Budgeting, answering this
very question – indeed, the question of our time – is the entire mission of our
work. And this summer, in Washington D.C., we are showcasing some of the most
inspiring and successful stories of cities and counties providing real answers
to this question, with the use of Priority Based Budgeting.
We are pleased to provide a SNEAK-PEAK at the Case Studies
that will headline the
2013
Priority Based Budgeting Conference co-sponsored by the International
City/County Management Association and the Alliance for Innovations:
The City of Cincinnati’s use of Priority Based Budgeting
(through their Priority Driven Budgeting initiative) establishes one of the greatest
advancements in the use of the process to guide policy direction. The City’s
response to Council’s policy direction provides one of the most comprehensive
evaluations of city services across the entire organization.
Many organizations have approached us with a strong desire
to bring their elected officials into a constructive and transparent discussion
about the budget – Cincinnati has set the bar high in this respect. In the most
direct way possible, the City used
Priority Based Budgeting to guide
policy-oriented discussions. One of the benefits of the process is that
it creates specific roles for elected officials to participate and succeed.When
elected officials can focus on key policy questions that impact resource
allocation, when they’re provided input and transparency in the way their
policy questions are answered, and when they can make decisions based on policy
impacts, then they’ve played a successful role in budgeting.
In June, the City Council received the results of the
Priority-Driven Budgeting initiative and provided this budget policy motionwith
direction for formulating the 2013/2014 Operating Budget: “That the
Administration construct a budget based on the following factors:
Use the information from the Priority-Driven Budget process
to:
• Recommend elimination
or reduction of functions based upon whether other organizations or entities
are serving the same populations or providing the same function. If this is the
case, the administration should outline a method of transitioning individuals
to the other services or programs.
• Recommend changes to
mandated programs that exceed the minimum requirements of the mandate.
• Identify functions
that can be shared with other political jurisdictions.
• Identify functions
that, rather than eliminate them, can be made self sufficient through the
establishment of a fee structure.”
“The Diagnostic Tool provided data to start discussions
about the programs and services we provide to help the City analyze programs
and services for cost savings, revenue enhancements and budget reductions. All
of the analysis conducted allowed the City to more strategically allocate
resources, and provide citizens more transparency, as well as a clearer
understanding of the budget decision as we move forward.
While it is the first year Cincinnati has engaged in
priority-driven budgeting to this extent, it provides a foundation for
examining the services and programs the City provides that are important to the
people the City serves.”
Click here to see a detailed program listing – the budget status of every City Program in
PBB terms: the status of each program in terms of which are increased,
decreased, receive no funding change, become reorganized, or are under review.
Douglas County, Nevada has implemented a game-changing
approach to citizen engagement. In 2012, the County embarked on the
Priority Based Budgeting process with one of the primary objectives being to bring their
community into an ownership position with respect to decision making. What
unfolded in their groundbreaking use of an online tool to engage citizens sets
the bar at a whole new level in Participatory Budgeting. Not only that, but
they actually experienced an increase in the County’s bond rating as a result
of their work.
Citizen engagement in the budget process has been
increasingly of interest in local government budgeting. The logic follows that
the more citizens can authentically contribute and influence the decisions
being made by their government, the more ownership they might take in their
community. Trust increases with transparency. Compassion comes with trust. The
benefits are undeniable.
Still, organizations ask us, "but what about the risks
inherent in citizen engagement? What is the right role for citizens?"
We're asked, "to what degree is it appropriate, safe, meaningful,
realistic and effective to have citizens participate in decision making?"
In our work, we continue to strive for answers to these questions - they are
the right questions. With the potential for such great outcomes, if we can
answer them correctly and involve citizens in more meaningful and influential
ways, we are moved to try and answer the questions.
Hear Douglas County, Nevada's experience in putting citizens
in the driver's seat of their Priority Based Budgeting process. Special thanks
to Peak Democracy - our partners in the development of the County Budget
Challenge.
The City of Wheat
Ridge, Colorado
The City of Wheat Ridge, Colorado is the first community to
implement the entire approach to
Achieving Fiscal Health and Wellness through Priority Based Budgeting – incorporating the Fiscal Health approach to
communicating their financial forecast with the PBB process for resource
allocation. Hear from City leaders how the Fiscal Health model changed the
conversation with their elected officials, and how Priority Based Budgeting is
being used to address the budget.
"PBB is truly more than just a way to address your
'budget woes.' The great thing about Priority Based Budgeting is
it can help support the type of culture an organization desires
by not simply viewing this process as a budget tool when it is really so
much more. PBB is helping us further our culture in
areas where we know we have room for improvement. PBB is more
than being about the state of your budget, it is about the state of your
organization..."
Plus, a first-ever of
it’s kind “User Group” experience will feature a panel discussion of the
leading experts in Priority Based Budgeting from across the Country, featuring:
- The City of Fort Collins, Colorado
- The City of Walnut Creek, California
- The City of Lakeland, Florida
- The City of Tualatin, Oregon
- Boone County, Illinois
And more! Stay tuned for the complete Conference Program Release!
"A Summit of Leading Practices"
July 9 & 10, 2013 Arlington, VA Hilton Crystal City Hotel
REGISTER NOW!
