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Budget Kick-Off
Each year, the Office of Management and Budget conducts an annual
budget kick-off meeting. This year on, February 3rd, representatives
from each department gathered to receive guidance and information
for preparing the 2003-2004 Budget.
General
Instructions
The Office of Management and Budget distributed general instructions
for preparing the budget, schedules of budget hearings and provided
specific line item instructions for certain budget items. For example,
specific instructions were provided this year for postage increases,
benefits and pay plan adjustments. This information aids departments
in preparing their individual budget requests.
Budget
Message
The Director of Finance delivered the annual Budget Message that
set forth the vision for the budget process. As Metro enters the
third year of Mayor Purcell’s three-year budget plan, departments
were urged to remain focused on the goals and priorities that set
the course for that plan. Once again the goals are to produce a
budget that is balanced using conservative assumptions, maintaining
low property taxes, and focusing on Nashville’s future.
Streamlining
the Process with Technology
This year, the Office of Management and Budget introduced a new
tool to streamline the budget preparation process.
WEBudget is a web-based tool that allows individual departments
to submit budget requests. The tool also provides the Office of
Management and Budget the ability to review and consolidate budget
information into a single budget format
Reviewing
the Mission and Goals
Departments start the budget process by reviewing their mission.
Each department’s mission statement drives the programs and
services offered to the public. By focusing on a clearly defined
mission, departments can ensure that their budget requests match
the needs of the citizens served.
Setting
Priorities
Based on the review of their mission and goals, each department
sets its priorities for the coming budget year. These priorities
may be new programs or services, or new targets for existing programs
and services. Each priority must be measurable – that is,
the results of the investment of dollars must be clear -- and each
department is accountable for reaching their stated results.
Identifying
Needed Resources
Once a department sets their priorities for the budget year, they
identify the corresponding resource requirements for the coming
year.
Accomplishment
Review
OMB reviews each department’s accomplishments from the previous
year, ensuring accountability to the prior year’s budget goals
and priorities.
Citizen
Impact Review
As new budget requests are received, OMB reviews all potential impacts
on services provided to the citizens of Metro.
Review
Departmental Priorities
After departments have submitted their budget priorities, the Office
of Management and Budget reviews the requests to ensure consistency
with Metro’s goals and priorities. (Public Safety, Full Funding
for Schools, Quality of Life/Neighborhoods, and Valuing Our Employees).
The Office of Management and Budget then presents departmental funding
requests along with supporting priority alignment information to
the Mayor for consideration in the Recommended Operating Budget.
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