PRC-500 - Understanding the County Budget: Part 1 - Development and Presentation

Course Description

Understanding the County Budget, Part 1: Development and Presentation | Explore the purpose of the county budget, the role of each player, and how citizens can make sense of it all. Discover the inflection points where citizen input is needed or useful. Learn how the inquiring citizen can avoid being manipulated, spun, obfuscated and other defensive bureaucratic tactics. $22+ includes $21 fee.

Learner Outcomes

Understand the legal framework (State law, County Charter, and County Code) underlying the process for the development, presentation, deliberation, adoption, and implementation of the County’s Comprehensive Budget; Become familiar with professional standards-settting organizations, guidelines, best practices, and peer-review processes; Discover a “cheat-sheet” or “short-hand” version of the otherwise volumious Comprehensive Budget; Appreciate the different roles and self-interests of the different players / stake-holders involved in the various stages of the budget process; Discover the important role citizens can play in all stages of the budget process, tips for avoiding the traps which can lead to misunderstanding, and the responsibility that comes with this role; Confidence in your ability to understand what can be an overwhelming subject, and the value in voicing your informed opinion.