There are many different ways for public officials to create a municipal budget. Since every city is different, each municipal budget needs to be handled uniquely.

The municipal budget cycle is necessary to understand which departments and segments of the city’s budget need to be reallocated. For instance, New York City, which has upheld a $6 billion police budget in recent years, shifted $1 billion to other areas in its recent budgeting process.

But municipal budgeting isn’t as easy as shifting funds from one area to the next. The municipal budget process can be challenging and drawn out. To succeed, public officials must understand the best way to create a municipal budget for their individual needs.

Here are some things to consider to create a municipal budget:

Budget Guidelines Should Incorporate a Long-term Outlook

Even if a municipality’s budget extends through the end of the fiscal year, public officials should plan well into the future when outlining and forecasting. In this case, public officials will be considering how to budget for important projects and department needs that aren’t necessarily in dire need right now but will require more attention later.

A Budget Should Focus on Broad Goals

While New York City, mentioned above, has a rather sizeable municipal budget, it doesn’t have unlimited funds. This means that every municipality has to consider its resources carefully and how to allocate them throughout its city. The best way to go about this is to start with the municipality’s objectives and look at the available budget. By doing so, public officials can ensure their strategic plan is taken into account during the entire municipal budget cycle.

Focus Budget Decisions on Outcomes

In every budget process, the next year’s budget looks back at previous ones to determine direction. If public officials have a clear set of goals, then they should have performance indicators and metrics linked to those goals. Many cities align their major budget items to outcomes to demonstrate why they’re spending their funds in a particular way. This helps the public understand why there’s an increase or decrease in different areas of the budget.

A Municipal Budget Should Provide Incentives to Employees

When a municipal budget is successfully outlined, both government management and employees will see how their daily efforts contribute to annual goals and how their contributions aid in the city’s overall success. Giving recognition is easy and won’t cost much of the budget. It also has a high payout in rapport and employee satisfaction.

About PGUI

Professional Governmental Underwriters, Inc., is a full-service risk management company dedicated to assisting public, educational and non-profit entities in the management of their professional liability exposures including educators liability insurance. We are dedicated to providing state-of-the-art professional underwriting management and loss control advisory services on behalf of our designated carriers. For more information, call us toll-free at (800) 586-6502.