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Explaining Difficult Budget Issues

Explaining Difficult Budget Issues. Opening up the Can of….. Pennies, Dollars and more. Overview – A few questions. Current level of outreach/engagement? Minimal – Moderate – Out the Wazoo Use of social media In general – On budget matters Use of citizen-focused meetings, workshops?

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Explaining Difficult Budget Issues

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  1. Explaining Difficult Budget Issues Opening up the Can of….. Pennies, Dollars and more

  2. Overview – A few questions Current level of outreach/engagement? Minimal – Moderate – Out the Wazoo Use of social media In general – On budget matters Use of citizen-focused meetings, workshops? Preparing simplified budget information? “You balance the budget” games or exercises?

  3. Overview – John’s “Wisdom” • Five moving pieces • Elected board interests • About the information – what and how • Outreach and engagement • Difficult budget messages

  4. Five moving pieces – no easy formula PIO/public affairs – getting the word out Finance/Budget staff – what is the word, and the figures! City/County Manager – staff-Elected Board relations, old and new procedures Elected Board “Consumers” of the information - residents, citizens, organized stakeholder groups, individual advocates, media

  5. Elected Board interests • Hot topic Handle carefully Don’t make our job harder • Supplement - do not replace - contact with citizens, stakeholder groups • Easier to focus on big picture – such as taxes, capital projects, services

  6. ABOUT THE INFORMATION – the what and the how • Levels/complexity of budget information • Context: Comparison data • Your jurisdiction • Other jurisdictions • Old media – New media

  7. Outreach and Engagement • Reaching many busy citizens vs. Small number of advocates • Fairness – ease of participation, methods of dissemination, invitation to a public meeting • Headlines vs. the tough details • Single-issue focus vs. Balancing priorities – Can citizens understand and struggle with the trade-offs that the Board faces?

  8. DIFFICULT BUDGET MESSAGES • We can’t do that • It is not that simple • Re-valuation and “revenue neutral” tax rate • Fund balance is not a “slush fund” • Managing separate funds – cannot (or should not) move money between them

  9. 2011 SOG resource • Creating Effective Citizen Participation in Local Government Budgeting: Practical Tips and Examples for Elected Officials and Budget Administrators • http://shopping.netsuite.com/s.nl/c.433425/it.I/id.479/.f Image credit: Andrew M. Sachs

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