Sunday, December 27, 2015

Budgeting Takes Extensive Preparation

In a previous post I wrote about the County Revenue Committee, an ad hoc group that seeks counsel from numerous sources as the budget and revenue projections are drafted.
Several people I know think government spending is on automatic pilot.  Department heads ask and they receive.  Spending grows with no thought of the taxpayer.  Nothing could be further from the truth.
On November 21st the Prince William County Board of County Supervisors (BOCS) held the FY 2107 Fiscal Year Retreat. This is when the BOCS meets to review the previous FY budget and discuss the next FY budget and options. It was a detailed agenda.  Budget staff works tirelessly on preparing for the retreat.
Prior to the FY retreat, department heads were asked to prepare documentation on their requests and rank order these recommendations.  At a department head meeting all the requests were consolidated, discussed, reviewed, and prioritized. These are then given to the budget staff for incorporation into the materials for the FY retreat.
I know this sounds boring and tedious, but it is a worthwhile exercise.  The following link will take you to the Powerpoints prepared for the retreat.  Note the last one titled "Preparing for the FY2017 Budget:  Five-Year Plan, Must-Do Items, and Unmet Needs." Link to this presentation:  http://www.pwcgov.org/government/dept/budget/Documents/04--Must-Dos%20and%20Unmet%20Needs--FINAL_MAC.pdf
Link to the FY2017 Fiscal Year Retreat
http://www.pwcgov.org/government/dept/budget/Pages/FY2017-Budget-Library.aspx

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