5 Balancing Act Features to Implement During COVID-19 Crisis
1. Use Scenario Questions Strategically to Inform/Get Feedback from Targeted Audience on Specific Budget Items
Scenario questions can engage and focus users on specific budget items. If using with residents, use scenario questions on items that are familiar to users. If you are using the questions with city council members or staff, use the scenario questions to model different “cut” and revenue options.
Here are a few examples.
Revenue
Each time you register or renew your car in “Generic County” you pay a Vehicle Registration Fee of $30. Revenue generated by these fees can only be used to support transportation related services such as roads and public transit.
Pose this question with the options below: “Should Generic County's vehicle registration be increased? “
• Eliminate the Vehicle Registration Fee Entirely
• Make No Changes to the Current Amount
• Increase the Vehicle Registration Fee by $15/year to $45
• Increase the Vehicle Registration Fee by 30/year to $60
Spending
Parks - Aquatics
Allow residents to be a part of the decision-making process with upcoming spending priorities. For example:
“The County is exploring various options to cut non-mandated expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. What changes should be made to the Aquatics Division?”
• Eliminate the entire Aquatics division within the County Parks.
• Close all outdoor pools
• Close all indoor pools
• Close half of the city’s pools
• Close both the outdoor pools and indoor pools
• Make no changes to the Aquatics division of Milwaukee County Parks
• Increase the maintenance fund for pools, pavilions, community centers, trails and other park amenities (+$500,000)
2. Do you have deficit and want to present specific options to reduce it?
Implement Balancing Act’s “Budget Cutting View” that allows stakeholders to easily see the impact of specific decision items on the deficit. This view (seen above) can be used at any level – program, department, or fund.
Maximize the Customizable Intro Screen to Frame the Conversation
Recently, Balancing Act enhanced the software to allow you to customize the entry modal (see below) with specific text, photos, or a video.
Leadership is critical right now. This is an opportunity to upload a video/message from a leader and convey a message.
Use the “i” information tab and More Details to Convey the Information that Residents Need to Know About Your City’s Services
During more typical times, it’s more than adequate to give a broad overview of the department and its primary services. Right now, it may be appropriate to give residents more specific information detailing the department’s role during the pandemic.
Use the “More Details” feature to its full capacity. Add videos, photos, info graphics, and so forth to add visual context to the messages that you are conveying.
5. Add depth and additional meaning to +/- options by utilizing our four custom features.
a. Lock specific revenue or expenditure items (but make sure to still explain them)!
The item lock feature is used for budget categories such as “Debt Servicing” or “Intergovernmental Transfers” because the amounts are fixed.
Lock down entire specific revenue categories if tax increases are out of the question. If you do choose to lock down certain categories, it’s still important to provide context about the tax so use the “i” and “More Details” features
b. Alert users of a consequence or a constraint as users make decisions
This is a terrific feature that allows you to alert the user of the consequences or a statutory constraint.
For example, in Colorado taxes cannot be raised without voter approval. Before users click to increase taxes, they see the following alert.
c. Consider putting constraints (floors or ceilings) on certain budget items.
The Item Change Boundary allows you (the simulation builder) to place boundaries on budget items. For example, statute/ordinance requires that the reserve cannot fall below a certain amount, feel free to put a floor on that budget item.
Lastly, contact us at Balancing Act. We know this is a challenging time for local governments so please do not hesitate to let us know how can we help.
Posted by Brenda Morrison, April 29, 2020
