Creative Approaches to Service Provision
Washoe County, Nevada, hosted its first-ever budget congress in early February 2025. Department heads and elected officials could choose to attend or to send a designee on their behalf, but the rules were strict—one attendee per department, with the idea that one person is one vote. Attendees were instructed to come prepared with a three-minute “bullet point” discussion, but no formal presentations or audiovisual equipment. They were given just three guiding questions, designed to find commonality among the departments. The headliner was: What keeps you awake at night?
Publication Date: February 2026
