When was the last time you pored over a budget document ? and understood what all the numbers meant?
Unless you?re an accountant, budget documents can be confusing, but Howard County officials have created a reader-friendly document. For the last 12 years they have been recognized for the effort by a national professional association.
“I think the average person can pick up at least the summary section, which we pride ourselves on,” said Gale Benson, Howard?s acting budget administrator. “We try to explain it in a way people understand.”
The county?s fiscal year 2007 capital and operating budget document earned Distinguished Budget Designation from the Government Finance Officers Association, which monitors government financial management.
The document met criteria in four areas: policy document, financial plan, operations guide and communications tool for the public.
“It?s like a Good Housekeeping Seal for governmental budgets,” said John Fishbein, senior manager at the association, adding the award is for presentation and does not grade the financial particulars.
The documents for the county?s $1.2 billion budget, which are posted online, include a summary, spending priorities, a budget calendar and department goals for the next year. In recent years, budget officials also have included answers to common questions to raised each year, such as fee changes and department reorganizations, Benson said.
County Executive James Robey praised the budget staff for their efforts.
“We believe it?s important to show our taxpayers where the money comes from and how it is being spent.”
Along with the recognition, the association also passes along suggestions for improvement, Benson said, adding that she looks to other jurisdictions for ideas.
“We always think about how we can make this better,” she said.
For example, Benson said Howard does not have a formal performance measurements program, which helps justify budget requests by measuring data and outcomes. The county began this initiative several years ago, but the interest waned, she said.
This might be something for County Executive-elect Ken Ulman to look at after he takes office, she said.
