Rethinking Budgeting: Equity and Fairness

More and more local governments are exploring how to incorporate the concept of equity into their budget processes, but doing so can raise concerns about fairness. Developing a local government budget requires a broad array of stakeholders to work together to make decisions, and in order to secure the participation of all stakeholders, the decision-making systems must be perceived as fair. Utilizing transparent criteria and processes for making decisions is one way to promote fairness, but what do you do when people have different definitions of what is fair? How can you incorporate equity into your budget process and demonstrate fairness in a politically polarized environment?

This webinar will examine what "fairness" really means, taking into consideration the different moral perspectives people will bring to the question. The webinar will also provide recommendations for local governments navigating issues of equity and fairness within the context of public finance. You will gain an understanding of why people have different perceptions of fairness and learn strategies to facilitate collaboration among individuals with varied political beliefs.

Who Will Benefit: CFO/Finance Director, Treasurer, Controller, Department Director

• Identify the three forms of fairness
• Understand the link between fairness and equity and what the differences are
• Lean the practical application of fairness and equity to designing a budget process