I'd explain to staff the call for reductions and ask for suggestions. Staff almost always know where time and resources are not being invested wisely. Posting all the suggestions somewhere visible will encourage others to make suggestions.

I'd also encourage staff to begin discussing with friends and family how budget cuts in Public Works may affect them. Staff can be told that it is all right to tell friends and families that they need to contact Ms. Rangstrom directly if they oppose Public Works cuts.

I'd see if I could barter with another department my stockpiled tires.

I'd have staff go out and take photos of all the areas that need maintenance now. If any projects are scheduled for next year, I'd take photos of what the area looks like now. These can be used in lobbying efforts to citizens.

This might be the time to stage an open house and invite the citizens of Zenith City to meet Public Works and learn more about the services it offers. The more the citizens know about what your department does, the more willing they will be to support your efforts and your budget.

Ruth McLemore-Price
Senior Management Analyst
Central District, Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Orlando

BRAINSTORM TOGETHER

But if I was in that situation.... I would first visit with the budget director and ask what she is trying to achieve and how see expects the process to be workable in maintaining services and facilities. I would ask what her long-term vision and plan for the city finances are and how this cut fits in that vision. I would suggest that the effect of the announced cuts may be really counter-productive. Because it is draconian, it may cause departments to resort to guerrilla tactics rather than working together for the good of the city. I would suggest to Ms. Ranstrom that we get the top management together and brainstorm together how can effectively address the cuts in a manner consistent with a long-term vision.

Depending on her reaction, I would then visit with the mayor or city manager (the chief executive officer of the city) and would invite the budget director along. I would ask the CEO what her/his vision of the organization is and how the financial constraints affect it. I would suggest that this is a time to get the most out of the departments — creativity, ingenuity, rock-solid commitment to the organization goal, and focus on the longer-term goal. I would ask that we organize the cuts by first agreeing as an organization on what we are trying to do, during the fourth quarter and in the next two to five years. I have to rely on the good faith and skill of the management team and believe that we can come up with a way to get inside the budget constraints with equity and priorities driving the decisions.

I would invite my staff to participate in the process of reinventing how we do things with less money and promise them more flexibility and all of my support in taking that task on. I would encourage and support those who “get it” and actively seek change. I would encourage them to involve folks in other departments who are peers or partners in service delivery. I would ask them to figure out with me how we can involve our customers in coming up with priorities for action or cuts.

If all of those things were not OK in our organization and if the culture that the budget director is encouraging will stick, I would seriously consider whether I want to work in that kind of environment and maybe pull the pin.

But at heart, I believe that the budget director must have something up her sleeve and that a conversation with her can refocus the process on success rather than deconstruction. After all, I know budget directors ... I am a budget director.

Alec Andrus
Budget Director
Boise, Idaho

ADDRESS DECLINING REVENUE

Next, I would end corporate welfare in the form of tax increment financing (TIFs) or direct subsidies. After this, I would end all sales taxes, income taxes or any other tax on productive economic activity. This makes sense because taxes on productive human effort chase away productive people while attracting moochers and takers trying to score handouts from weak politicians. The neutral land value tax provides a stabilizing effect on the local economy.

Zenith City would now be an attraction to committed businesses with only one tax to deal with — a land value tax. The potential business owner would not have to subsidize his competitor, as under the old system. Zenith City would now embrace economic entrepreneurs instead of political entrepreneurs.

Ronald Rosenberger
Letter Carrier
Pittsburgh