Successful Budget Strategies and Justification

Successful Budget Strategies and Justification

Strategies

Strategies differ from justifications. A strategy is an approach; a careful plan or method; it is the art of devising or employing plans toward a goal. A justification means to prove or show to be just, right, or reasonable; to show to have had a sufficient legal reason.  The chief executive’s goal is to retain the agency’s base budget, and, if possible, to increase it above the current year’s appropriations. Developing a logical strategy is the means to that end.

In November 2002, the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) posted the final draft of roundtable discussions with several police chiefs from around the country. Among the different budget strategies that were considered, using crime and workload data was first on the list. Other research by Greene, Bynum and Cordner (1986) revealed that “increased workload was the second greatest factor contributing to an increase in positions.”While not infallible, workload data is reasonable and objective. The other strategies discussed by PERF were: 1) “capitalize on sensational crime incidents (ideally not occurring locally),2 ) careful mobilize interest groups, 3) plan strategically, 4) participate fully in the federal grant process, 5) maintain a close working relationship with the local chief executive and governing board members, and 6) involve all levels of the police department.”

Other data that can support a budget proposal includes: 1) aggregate population and population density, 2) racial and ethnic composition of the city, 3) age composition, 4) gender composition, 5) education levels, 6) median household income, and 7) per capita and household income.

Justification

Budget strategies and their attendant analysis are important, but justification is the main ingredient to the success for the agency’s budget. A solid justification includes all of the relevant information for the legislative body, the budget office and the city’s chief executive. Budgets should be justified in three separate spending categories: mandatory, base and discretionary.