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FY 2016-2017 Budget Critique
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Background:
Each year following completion of the budget, commissioners give staff feedback on how the process and the document can be improved.
Last year, commissioners did not give staff any areas for improvement of the process or document.
Last year commissioners adopted the attached calendar for preparation of the FY 2016-2017 budget. In addition to the dates shown on the calendar, staff met with commissioners one-on-one to review the recommended budget immediately prior to presentation of the recommended budget.
At their budget retreat the commissioners set goals to guide the development of the FY 2016-2017 budget. For the most part, the goals from the prior year budget were adopted for the new budget. The overarching vision was that Chatham County is a thriving community of healthy people living in a safe environment that provides opportunities for prosperity for all. A thorough discussion of the goals is presented in the Budget Message on pages 10-14. The goal setting process included a survey that asked for feedback to determine which existing goals had unanimous agreement, which goals commissioners wanted to revisit, and proposals for new goals. From a staff perspective this process worked well in that it allowed us to prepare a draft set of goals that could be modified during the retreat. If this process is not effective from a board perspective, you may want to consider a facilitator for the goal-setting portion of the retreat.
Discussion and Analysis:
Staff requests feedback on the following issues:
Budget retreat
* Was the goal-setting process helpful and should it be repeated or modified?
* Information that was distributed for consideration at the retreat is attached. Is there any information that is not necessary? Is there additional information that will make the next retreat more effective?
* Is the Heads Up document helpful in informing commissioner priorities? Could this document be improved?
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