Local governments can have a lasting and significant impact on equity creation for all residents of their communities. The budget is one of the most powerful tools for influencing change. However, the budget, as we have always done it, limits conversations and communication. The conversion from a line-item driven budget to a program budget opens communication and decision-making pathways enabling equity opportunities at all service levels.
The federal funding is an incredible opportunity to create a more sustainable future if invested strategically. The ResourceX framework tackles the question, How best to invest?
Local government leaders are not only tasked with the responsibility of making crucial decisions that impact the citizens in the community, but they must also meet resident demands for providing insight into why those decisions were made. The foundational unit of a Priority Based Budget, the Program, captures and communicates data layers in an easy-to-communicate format.
"The City of Duluth, MN faced structural challenges in its budget, given some of the city’s particular needs and obligations. Priority based budgeting helped the city align its revenues, expenditures, and values."
"It’s an approach that can advance innovation while offering financial and operational advantages for the typical, day-to-day services that local governments operate."
Premise and Problem Statement
The American Rescue Plan (ARP) infuses $350 billion into local governments, easing the immediate financial trauma facing most every community across the country, and providing options to overcome shortfalls and simultaneously rebuild for a stronger, more sustainable future.
Chris Fabian, Ian McCormack and Kelly Rudyk teamed up at Govapalooza to present on their new partnership and to take a deep dive on the “Unification Theory of Local Government.”
Chris Fabian, CEO, ResourceX
Samma Fox, Assistant to the City Manager, Littleton, Colorado
ResourceX is leading an ELGL Cohort to support the creation and application of data
needed to communicate and make organizational decisions that impact every citizen’s welfare, and influence the resiliency of every organization.
