Look for the Good: Communicating the Costs and Benefits of Government Services

Traditional government budgeting and accounting has focused on departments, cost centers, and expenditure objects that help describe how much the government is spending. This approach makes it easier to manage costs internally, but it does little to show all the good work the organization is doing to add value in the community.

In this session, speakers will discuss the benefits of developing a program inventory, how to approach assigning costs to programs, strategies for including programs in budget communications, and the importance of communicating program value. Speakers will also provide an overview of new GFOA tools and templates for identifying programs and for helping communicate budgeted programs in accordance with GFOA's new criteria for the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.