Methodology Matters

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), signed into law on March 11, 2021, was created in response to the devastating impacts COVID-19 has had on communities nationwide. It infused state and local governments with more than $350 billion to support economies and communities struggling in the wake of the pandemic. This funding was designed with the specific purposes of supporting front-line workers, advancing public health initiatives, boosting relief to businesses and households, remedying systemic challenges to populations disproportionately affected by the pandemic, and investing in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure.

Like many cities worldwide, the City of Pittsburgh has already begun to experience the effects of climate change with harsher winters, hotter summers, record-setting precipitation, leading to frequent and destructive landslides, and increased numbers of invasive species. At the local government level, resources and opportunities exist to prepare for the impacts of climate change, but they must be reviewed, prioritized, and put into action.

Every week, Brad Steckart and I want to create something fun for our Priority Based Budgeting community. We will pull from interesting ResourceX announcements, product enhancements, current events and, of course, community and client stories.

Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, has been working with ResouceX since 2019. They utilize OnlinePBB for operating budgets and prioritize their Capital projects through the Priority Based Budgeting process. In the years since launching with ResourceX, they have demonstrated thought leadership, project ownership, and continuously push the program budgeting movement forward as leaders in the PBB community.

So, it came as no surprise that their 2022 Operating and Capital Budgets once again demonstrated a forward movement meriting recognition and celebration. But let's take a step back and think about why a movement forward in local government budgeting is so important. 

Every week, Brad Steckart and I want to create something fun for our Priority Based Budgeting community. We will pull from interesting ResourceX announcements, product enhancements, current events and, of course, community and client stories.

Local governments have an enormous opportunity to create a better future if they spend ARPA funds strategically - Check out how the ResourceX ARPA Toolset can support your organization!

ICMA surveyed local government Chief Administrative Officers in September of 2021 about their priorities for utilizing their American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Nearly 600 town, city, and county managers responded and around half of the overall respondents anticipated hiring or designating coordinators for overall planning and management of these funds.

Every week, Brad Steckart and I want to create something fun for our Priority Based Budgeting community. We will pull from interesting ResourceX announcements, product enhancements, current events and, of course, community and client stories.

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.