"More than seventy cities and counties have adopted PBB as a means of better aligning available resources with local government priorities. In this time of increasing budgetary challenges, innovative approaches like PBB offer the hope of preserving vital local government services."
In our experience at the Center for Priority Based Budgeting (CPBB), we don't see enough city or county leaders writing articles in support of local initiatives they find exciting and innovative. Not that local governments aren't doing exciting things, but we suspect it is likely more of an issue involving lack of time rather than interest.
This article (below) articulates County Manager Mathers experience implementing priority based budgeting and its positive impact on Gaston County, NC.
Congratulations to County Manager Mathers for his excellent article and his leadership, and the leadership of his staff and elected officials, in implementing PBB on behalf of the County and the citizens of this beautiful community.
My Turn: Gaston County implements Priority Based Budgeting
Priority Based Budgeting (PBB) is the brainchild of Jon Johnson and Chris Fabian, two former county finance professionals who launched the Center for Priority Based Budgeting in Denver, Colo. several years ago. Since that time, PBB was identified by the International City and County Manager’s Association (ICMA) as a “leading practice” and has also been endorsed by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).
More than seventy cities and counties have adopted PBB as a means of better aligning available resources with local government priorities. In this time of increasing budgetary challenges, innovative approaches like PBB offer the hope of preserving vital local government services.
Gaston County began to consider PBB as an alternative approach to budgeting early in 2014 with the approval of the Board of County Commissioners. Fundamentally, PBB is designed to optimize the use of tax payer dollars and promote better alignment between programs and community values.
Unlike traditional approaches to budgeting which usually feature incremental changes to line item
The goal of PBB is to identify those program areas that most closely align with Board established priorities and direct adequate resources to those areas. Conversely, programs determined to be less in alignment may receive less funding, be eliminated entirely if they prove to be duplicative or obsolete.
There is also the possibility that lower priority programs can be targeted for partnerships with other groups in the community that provide similar services. This process enables the local government to become more strategic in its approach to service delivery while conserving scarce resources.
PBB is an enlightening process for all those involved since it facilitates an objective prioritization process which provides better information on program efficacy. Unlike the private sector, local governments are mandated by the state and federal government to perform the majority of their programs. However, PBB also allows participants to determine just how much of a particular mandate they are obligated to fulfill.
A large number of Gaston County department heads and others have devoted a significant amount of time to PBB activities such as “result mapping” and “peer review teams.” They are to be commended for their efforts.
In future budget years, Gaston County is likely to create enhanced performance metrics to be used in conjunction with the PBB process. It is also anticipated that greater citizen involvement will be a feature of the process in the future.
PBB is compatible with other good governance strategies that will enhance Gaston County’s ability to meet the needs of our citizens as a responsive high performance public organization.
Mathers is County Manager for Gaston County.
If you're thinking of jumping into the world of Fiscal Health and Wellness through Priority Based Budgeting we would certainly like to be part of your efforts! Contact us to schedule a free webinar and identify the best CPBB service option(s) to meet your organization's particular needs.
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