Priority Based Budgeting Implementation.... Asheville, NC Style!

The City of Asheville, North Carolina became the fifth Priority Based Budgeting community in the State last month. What is remarkable about Asheville's PBB process is that the City's elected officials had established a starting place for the City's "Results" by way of an extensive strategic planning effort they'd completed, focusing primarily on the role of local government in their community. This Strategic Operating Plan ("SOP") provides a solid foundation for the PBB process to build upon.

On November 18, 2014, the City of Asheville, NC kicked off their Priority Based Budgeting process with a day-long workshop led by Jon Johnson and Chris Fabian from the Center for Priority Based Budgeting in Colorado. Jon and Chris presented City staff with an overview and history of PBB and led staff through a brainstorming exercise to define the City of Asheville’s Community and Governance Results. Jon and Chris ended the day with a session on defining programs and services (Program Inventory), which is the next step in the PBB implementation process. 

City staff are currently working through creating Program Inventories for their departments. Departmental Program Inventories are due to the Budget Office by Wednesday December 17, 2014. Work on PBB implementation will continue into the spring of 2015, and Finance staff will work with Jon and Chris to define a timeline for the next steps in the process. So stay tuned for further updates!

Below are links to materials presented at the November 18 Priority Based Budgeting workshop:

Governance Results Validation Exercise Template
PBB Orientation Slides
Program Inventory
Program Inventory Workshop
Summary of Programs by Department

If you would like to read more about Priority Based Budgeting, please click on the links below:

PBB Center
Priority Based Budgeting - ICMA CMS Leading Practices 

Keep an eye on the CPBB blog for further updates. Sign-up for our social media pages so you stay connected with TEAM CPBB!

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.

 

"DATA VISUALIZATION" for Local Government

Pioneering Douglas County, NV Brings Back Priority Based Budgeting!

Douglas County, Nevada has been one of the most successful implementers, and now practitioners, of Priority Based Budgeting. In fact, they were the first county in the nation to implement Priority Based Budgeting. Douglas County has also 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 (see story here). Not only that, but the County's bond rating was affirmed as a result of their work. 

Now Douglas County is continuing their pioneering work with priority based budgeting and citizen engagement. The following article was recently published by The Record-Courier.

 

From The Record-Courier-

 

It’s rare that a county budgeting process is referred to as pioneering, innovative or award-winning, but Douglas County’s priority based budgeting has been called all those things. 

Key to the process is online input from county residents, who are being asked to visit a website

through Dec. 19 to share what their priorities are.

“Everyone’s voice matters,” said Christine Vuletich, finance director and assistant county manager. “We want to hear what is most important to our citizens in terms of the services we provide as a county,” 

On the website, participants divide $500 between six major areas, including safe community, economic vitality, well maintained infrastructure, financial stability, preservation of natural environment, resources and cultural heritage and managed growth and development.

To access Manage the County Checkbook, residents can visit: http://nv-douglascounty2.civicplus.com/989/Open-Douglas-County

Residents may also text “subscribe” to 775-309-4358. The online registration will ask for your name, email address and physical address. Your registration information is secure and will not be shared with any outside party. The physical address will allow responses from geographic areas within the county to be viewed, but the county and public will not be able to see the names of individual participants unless the participants chose to display their names. 

Any residents who do not have internet access may come to the Minden Inn and complete online or obtain access at the Douglas County Library. In addition, computers will be available in the lobby at county commissioner meetings.

The county received the Cashman Good Government Award for the process.

In 2012, Douglas County became the first county in the nation to implement priority-based budgeting, which shifts the annual budget process from across the board allocations to investing in the community’s highest priorities. Priority-based budgeting has since been adopted by the International City-County Management Association and the Alliance for Innovation as a leading practice in local government.

Douglas County has used the process since to increase its bond rating for the first time in 10 years to the highest level in history.

Congratulations again to Douglas County, NV. We at the CPBB couldn't be more proud to partner with such an innovative group of local government professionals! Keep up the excellent work!

Keep an eye on the CPBB blog for further updates. Sign-up for our social media pages so you stay connected with TEAM CPBB!

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.

 

"DATA VISUALIZATION" for Local Government

Cobb County, GA Publishes Budget, Wins Public Service Award, through a Foundation of Priority Based Budgeting

Cobb County, Georgia recently published their 2015-2016 biennial budget book. This comprehensive budget document represents the ethics, goals and priorities of one of the largest counties in Georgia.

The Center for Priority Based Budgeting (CPBB) is proud to partner with Cobb County in their implementation of priority based budgeting (PBB). CPBB launched PBB with Cobb County in January 2014, with a 2-year process. In the first year, we established Results and defined the Results, completed the Program Inventory and Program Costs – this information was used in the development of Cobb County's 2-year biennial 2015-16 budget. Beginning this month, the County will be embarking on Program Scoring, which will be followed by Peer Review and the ultimate development of the final PBB Model for 2015.


County Manager Honored for Leadership

Cobb County Manager David Hankerson was honored with the 2014 Jerry R. Griffin Excellence in Public Service Award by the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia. This prestigious award recognizes an individual who has worked toward achieving a lasting positive impact on his or her community.

“His county government track record is extensive with numerous contributions and achievements that include the implementation of priority-based budgeting system, operating a county budget with seven Triple A rankings, the completion of the East-West Connector, and most recently, the relocation of the Atlanta Braves stadium to Cobb County,” ACCG officials said in a statement.

Priority Based Budgeting as Centerpiece to Biennial Budget Book

The following excerpts from Cobb County's 2015-2016 biennial budget book reflect the impact PBB has had on the county thus far. Congratulations to Cobb County on their leadership in bringing priority based budgeting to their citizens and County government!

 

 

Keep an eye on the CPBB blog for further updates. Sign-up for our social media pages so you stay connected with TEAM CPBB!

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.

 

"DATA VISUALIZATION" for Local Government