Financial Times Recognizes Prioritization --- Lorie Tinfow talks about Walnut Creek, and Jon Johnson discusses the "New Normal"

Financial Times Recognizes Prioritization - US town halls find fresh angles to meet recession by Nicole Bullock

Walnut Creek, California, which must close a $20m (€14m, £12.5m) deficit for the 2010 financial year, is polling citizens on what services they value most, so it can make targeted cuts. Lorie Tinfow, assistant city manager, also expects the expansion of volunteer programmes such as checking on the elderly at home.

“We are rethinking what services the city provides, what we are paying for them and what we are expecting as American taxpayers to get for that dollar,” Ms Tinfow said.

US town halls find fresh angles to meet recession

By Nicole Bullock in New York

Published: December 22 2009 19:17

City of San Jose Engages Mayor and City Council, Senior Staff, City Labor Leaders, Neighborhood Commissioners and others in Peer Review of Program Scores and the Weighting of Citywide Results

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City of San Jose Engages Mayor and City Council, Senior Staff, City Labor Leaders, Neighborhood Commissioners and others in Peer Review of Program Scores and the Weighting of Citywide Results

Citizens of Walnut Creek Pioneer Groundbreaking Work to Influence the Results of their Government

'Spend' $500 to help Walnut Creek plan its budget

By Elisabeth Nardi

Contra Costa Times
Posted: 11/24/2009 01:25:05 PM PST

Spending a faux $500 may seem easy. But when it comes to choosing between a safe community, arts and recreation or maintaining city parks and open spaces — weighing those decisions may prove tough.

But that's exactly what Walnut Creek leaders are asking local residents and workers to do. Starting Nov. 30, Walnut Creek is inviting people to weigh in on what city services matter most to them by "spending" an imaginary $500 on services they deem important.

City of Boulder Initiates Prioritization to Accomplish 5 Specific Objectives

http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/files/City%20Council/Study%20Sessions/2009/December_1_2009.pdf

A summary of the core concepts of Boulder's Priority-based Budgeting plan include:


• To establish the core goals results and/or objectives (the “results”) of the City of Boulder and its citizens and also to articulate them to external as well as internal stakeholders, thus providing a “roadmap” to determine that decisions made are leading the City in the direction of Prioritization;

• To implement a holistic process that will align strategic planning with resource allocation decisions (i.e., the budget process) as well as performance measurement and management;

City of San Jose Engages Citizens in Neighborhood Commission Forums to Discuss Prioritization

Outcomes of Prioritization Approach:

• Increased connection of budget to City’s Priority Results
• Stakeholder engagement in program priorities
• Rationale for reducing or eliminating programs that have the least impact on achieving the City’s Priority Results


Click here:
http://www.strongneighborhoods.org/NDCmeetings/111809/111809Presentation.pdf

It's All in the Questions Part 2 - The Manager's Role in Achieving Fiscal Health

https://www.yousendit.com/download/T2pGTXRYTmF3NUpjR0E9PQ

In October 2009, PM Magazine published Part 2 in the "It's All in the Questions" series which highlighted the public manager's role in assessing the organization's Fiscal Health. With special emphasis on the effectiveness of Internal Service Funds and the success of scenario planning models such as the Fiscal Health diagnostic tool we've built, this article helps put in place the final foundation of financial stability needed so that an organization can look to Priority Based Budgeting with a sound footing.

Managing Your Budget in Turbulent Times: An In-depth Review of Fiscal Health and Wellness (Prioritization) – Jon Johnson and Chris Fabian, ICMA Senior Management Advisors

Click Here to Download Presentation Slides:

Managing Your Budget in Turbulent Times: An In-depth Review of Fiscal Health and Wellness (Prioritization) – Jon Johnson and Chris Fabian, ICMA Senior Management Advisors

2009 ICMA Annual Conference - Montreal, Quebec

Saturday, September 12th and Sunday, September 13th

Please let us know if you download the presentation slides - we'd very much like to remain in contact with you all, and learn more about how this work may be of value in your organizations. Above all, we want to thank you for 2 outstanding sessions at the conference - your enthusiasm and engagement and interest was significant and meaningful to us. Further, ICMA has an open ear for your feedback as we try to understand the interest level and plan additional workshops, web/audio-conferences, publications and direct services. Thanks truly!

Community Forums Underway to Facilitate the Most Comprehensive Initiative to Define Results with Citizen Input, Associated with Prioritization

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Community Forums Underway to Facilitate the Most Comprehensive Initiative to Define Results with Citizen Input, Associated with Prioritization




Talking about what's important
by Elisabeth Nardi Contra Costa Times
Posted: 09/09/2009 12:45:23 PM PDT

Start talking, Walnut Creek.
Five meetings scheduled over the next month aim to get Walnut Creek residents talking about what's most important for the community and what city government should provide.

City Issues Newsletter to Engage Citizens in Process to Define and Value Results

Click Here

City Issues Newsletter to Engage Citizens in Process to Define and Value Results

The City of Seaside, California Adopts Fiscal Health and Wellness (Prioritization) as a Council Objective and Fiscal Policy

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The City of Seaside, California Adopts Fiscal Health and Wellness (Prioritization) as a Council Objective and Fiscal Policy

City of Longmont, Colorado Incorporates Elements of Both Fiscal Health and Fiscal Wellness (Prioritization) into Budget Process

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City of Longmont, Colorado Incorporates Elements of Both Fiscal Health and Fiscal Wellness (Prioritization) into Budget Process

City of Monterey, California Hosts Regional Budget Forum, Inviting Neighboring Cities, Non-profits, Citizen Groups and the County to Learn the Principles and Objectives of Fiscal Health and Wellness (Prioritization)

City of Monterey, California Hosts Regional Budget Forum, Inviting Neighboring Cities, Non-profits, Citizen Groups and the County to Learn the Principles and Objectives of Fiscal Health and Wellness (Prioritization)

City Embarks on “Community Conversations” to Leverage Citizen Input in the Definition of Results

City Embarks on “Community Conversations” to Leverage Citizen Input in the Definition of Results

The City is projecting significant shortfalls for 2010-12. The information gathered during the Fall 2009 “Community Conversation on Balancing for the Future” will be used to help allocate resources to the areas the community values most.


Everyone who lives or works in Walnut Creek is encouraged to be part of this important Community Conversation.

ICMA Facilitates Session to Assist Walnut Creek City Council in Setting the Results of the Community

ICMA Facilitates Session to Assist City Council in Setting the Results of the Community

City Proposes Balanced Budget, Addressing $62 Million Budget Reduction, by Virtue of Implementing Prioritization in Tandem with Additional Strategies

City Proposed Balanced Budget, Addressing $62 Million Budget Reduction, by Virtue of Implementing Prioritization in Tandem with Additional Strategies

City Continues Collaborative Effort with Staff and Citizens to Define the Results of the Community

City Continues Collaborative Effort with Staff and Citizens to Define the Results of the Community

Grand Island, NE Embraces Prioritization As Way to Unite Common Vision of Elected Officials for the Community, and Balance City Budget Simultaneously

City Council Embraces Prioritization As Way to Unite Common Vision of Elected Officials for the Community, and Balance City Budget Simultaneously

Navigating the Fiscal Crisis: Tested Strategies for Local Leaders, Highlights Prioritization as a Suggested Strategy for Elected Officials

Navigating the Fiscal Crisis: Tested Strategies for Local Leaders, Highlights Prioritization as a Suggested Strategy for Elected Officials

Navigating the Fiscal Crisis: Tested Strategies for Local Leaders, Alliance for Innovations

National Association of Counties Promotes Fiscal Health and Wellness (Prioritization) as Suggested Practice to Elected Officials

National Association of Counties Promotes Fiscal Health and Wellness (Prioritization) as Suggested Practice to Elected Officials

Chris Fabian and Jon Johnson presented their strategy for dealing with a
fiscal crisis at NACo’s 2008 Annual Conference in Jackson County, Missouri (Kansas City) at a workshop for members entitled “Achieving Fiscal Health and Wellness.” In their approach, “wellness” means maintaining fiscal health into the future.

Jefferson County, Colorado Implements Fiscal Health and Wellness (Prioritization) to Address Multi-Million Dollar Shortfalls, 2006-2009; Garnering Support of Elected Officials and Citizens

Jefferson County, Colorado Implements Fiscal Health and Wellness (Prioritization) to Address Multi-Million Dollar Shortfalls, 2006-2009; Garnering Support of Elected Officials and Citizens

September 2009, Public Management, It’s All in the Questions: City Manager’s Role in Achieving Fiscal Health

September 2009, Public Management, It’s All in the Questions: City Manager’s Role in Achieving Fiscal Health

"It's All in the Questions - the Manager's Role in Achieving Fiscal Health" is the latest Cover Story for Pubic Management Magazine, and includes Part 1 of a 2 part series; the conclusion is to run in the October 2009 edition of PM

December 2008, Government Finance Review, Leading the Way to Fiscal Health: Leadership from the Finance Office

December 2008, Government Finance Review, Leading the Way to Fiscal Health: Leadership from the Finance Office

Jon Johnson and Chris Fabian outline the path to Achieving Fiscal Health, emphasizing the imperative role of the Finance Officer as diagnostician of the organization's relative state of health (or "dis-ease")

October 2008, Government Finance Review, Fiscal First Aid

October 2008, Government Finance Review, Fiscal First Aid

Shayne Kavanagh discusses Fiscal Health and Wellness (Prioritization) as a strategy for surviving these challenging economic times.

October 2008, Governing Magazine, Excelling in Times of Fiscal Distress

October 2008, Governing Magazine, Excelling in Times of Fiscal Distress

Bob O’Neill discusses Prioritization in a large County environment in Colorado and how the process brought elected officials and administration together in a time of crisis.

June 2008, Public Management, Getting Your Priorities Straight: Prioritization as the New Reality in Budgeting

June 2008, Public Management, Getting Your Priorities Straight: Prioritization as the New Reality in Budgeting

Chris Fabian and Jon Johnson's first published work on the Prioritization process