This document outlines a 3-step process for streamlining a budget process: 1. Assess available resources like time, money, people, and technology. 2. Identify problem areas in the current budget process using methods like brainstorming or predefined categories related to timelines, documents, decision-making, capital improvement processes, and communication. 3. Select a project by considering situational factors, the 80/20 principle, strategic plans, and change management literature. The goal is to select high impact projects that are achievable.

1. Tonya Walton, Orange County
Streamlining the Budget
ProcessS T R E A M L I N
E
YOUR BUDGET PROCESSTonya Walton, Or ange C ounty
tw alton@ or angecountync.gov
2 0 1 4 N C L G B A S u m m e r C o n f e r e n c e

2. Step 1: Assess your resources.
What do the next 12
months look like for us?
Time1
Can we realign funds this
year?
Money2
People Who are our internal &
external supporters?3
Technology
What hardware,
software and skillsets
are available to us?
4

3. Exercise – Resource Assessment
Resource Key Questions Consider
Time What does the next 12
months look like for us?
• Usual event cycle
• Significant circumstances
Money Can we realign funds this
year?
• How much (e.g. $100,
$500, $1,000)
People Who are our internal and
external supporters?
• Strong external
relationships
New/transitioning staff
Technology What hardware, software
and skillsets are available
to us?
• Current technology-what is
it doing/not doing
• Scheduled upgrades
• Current mastery level of
existing technology

4. Step 2: Identify your problem areas.
• Method 1: Brainstorm.
• Method 2: Use preexisting categories.
Problem Area Consider
Timeline Length – too short, too long?
Documents Soliciting information from departments;
Published documents
Decision-Making Benchmarking; Performance Assessment
CIP Process Project management; Prioritization;
Capital assessment
Communication Gaps in process; Pre-process discussions

5. GFOA Topic Areas & Budget Award
Resources:
www.gfoa.org/topics www.gfoa.org/budgetaward

6. Step 3: Select your project.
• Which projects to select?
• Situational Factors
– Tipping Point
– Low-Hanging Fruit
• 80/20 Principle
• Strategic Plans

7. Exercise – Problem Identification &
Project Selection
Problem Area Consider
Timeline Length – too short, too long?
Documents Soliciting information from departments;
Published documents
Decision-Making Benchmarking; Performance Assessment
CIP Process Project management; Prioritization; Capital
assessment
Communication Gaps in process; Pre-process discussions
1.Situational Factors
2.80/20 Principle
3.Strategic Plans
• Project Selection

8. Step 3: Select your project.
• Which projects to select?
• Situational Factors
– Tipping Point
– Low-Hanging Fruit
• 80/20 Principle
• Strategic Plans
• Leading Change
• Daring Greatly (Brown)
• The Energy Bus (Gordon)
• See Additional Resources folder for
more details

9. Wrap-Up
1. “Streamline”
2. Session Objectives
3. Remember: Do not let the
perfect be the enemy of
the good.
Projects
Resources Problems

10. Questions
Tonya Walton
Budget & Management Analyst, Orange County
twalton@orangecountync.gov