Program Lengths: One-half day, one day and two day modules

Target Group: This program is for staff members of public agencies who are required to prepare, analyze, present and/or defend budgets.

Description: Budgeting is the number one skill public administrators must master to be successful in the 2000’s. This program is designed to increase staff member proficiency and skill in researching, developing, marketing, defending and implementing budgets.

Topics include:

• Submitting defendable budget proposals
• Using the fifteen question checklist to evaluate budget submittals
• Avoiding the common budget mistakes
• Asking penetrating budget questions
• Preparing winning justifications
• The budget process and cycle
• Types of budgets
• Avoiding the budget game playing trap
• Presenting budgets to the elected body
• Avoiding implementation traps

Resources: Participants use the “Little Budget Book: A Portable Budgeting Guide for Local Government” as a workshop resource. Books are provided at a discount to sponsoring agencies.