A Roadmap to Collaborative Local Government Budgeting

A new white paper shows budgeting leaders how to align governments and residents around funding priorities for effective budgeting decisions

Local government engagement company Balancing Act, which is now part of Polco, co-released a white paper that shows local governments how to bring the budgeting process into the modern age. Old fashion budgeting methods make it difficult for stakeholders to get on the same page, which can lead to a budget that does not fully support strategic goals. The white paper, A Roadmap for Real Collaboration in Budgeting, gives readers a straightforward guide to more effective budgeting that aligns decision-makers around what is most important.

The white paper is a response to Government Finance Officers Association’s Rethinking Budgeting Initiative. The initiative was created after a six-year investigation into what is working and what needs changing in local government budgeting. Balancing Act co-wrote the white paper with fellow GovTech companies Envisio and Questica. In the paper, they offer new strategies and technology that solve today’s budgeting alignment and planning problems outlined in the initiative. 

Each company’s solutions focus on a cornerstone local government challenge: public engagement, strategic planning, and budgeting. Balancing Act’s simulations let users experience the tough trade-offs government leaders have to make when working on a fixed and limited budget. Envisio’s planning solutions let governments execute plans, and measure and support performance. Questica, a division of GTY technology, supports data-driven budgeting and decision-making. Each offers the best-class tools available to government.

“As three government technology leaders, we are acting on a confluence of technological advances, stimulus funding for governments to revamp systems and processes, and rising public expectations for participation in government,” said Chris Adams, President of Balancing Act by Polco. Adams added the companies are committed to working together to inspire a “sea change” in the budget process. 

In the white paper, you get:

• Insight on how trust in government is eroding and how that’s created significant pressure to include public participation in the budgeting process
• How local local governments can harness high-quality citizen engagement with technology 
• A how-to guide on conducting a transparent budget process with public engagement, strategic planning and outcomes-based budgeting