Budgeting Outcomes and Priorities in Lincoln

The University of Nebraska Public Policy Center worked with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Bureau of Sociological Research to conduct a scientific phone survey of 600 randomly selected residents to solicit public opinion about how the City of Lincoln should spend its tax dollars.

The phone survey was a step toward outcome-based budgeting, a process that ties programs to the goals that citizens want local government to accomplish. It aims to vocalize the needs of the entire community rather than special interest groups.

Mayor Chris Beutler was scheduled to make his decisions on the 2008-2009 City budget in May and the budget will be released to the public in June. The City Council votes on tentative changes to the Mayor’s budget in July. The public hearing is scheduled for August 11, and the Council is scheduled to adopt the budget on August 25.

Those who are not invovled in the phone survey were invited to comment in writing, online, and at public meetings.

Press Releases from the Mayor's Office:

February 12, 2008
March 3, 2008
April 1, 2008
May 29, 2008

To read the background material on Lincoln's budget priorities, click here.

To read the Final Report, click here. Or, for an abbreviated version of the Final Report (the full report without the appendices), click here.

In the News:

• Mayor's Lincoln Budget Proposal Calls for Cuts (2008, June 12), KOLNKGIN.com
• Safety Tops Lincolnites' Priorities. (2008, May 29). Lincoln Journal Star.
• In End, Budget Questions Can't be Ducked. (2008, April 23). Lincoln Journal Star.
• Residents Uninformed about City Budget. (2008, April 22). Daily Nebraskan.
• Budget Survey: Lincolnites Rank Safety, Economic Opportunity High. (2008, April 21). Lincoln Journal Star.
• Lincolnites help city begin to budget. (2008, April 12). Lincoln Journal Star.
• Take the Survey about How to Spend Money? It Can't Hurt. (2008, April 6). Lincoln Journal Star.
• City Budget Survey to Begin This Week. (2008, March 6). Lincoln Journal Star.
• Budget Surveys Set to Begin. (2008, March 3). Lincoln Journal Star.
• City Works with University to Conduct Tax Survey of Lincolnites. (2008, February 20). Daily Nebraskan.
• Cheers for Something New at City Hall. (2008, February 17). Lincoln Journal Star.
• Another Tough Budget Year Looms. (2008, February 13). Lincoln Journal Star.
• Mayor Wants Public Input on Budget. (2008, February 12). Channel 10-11 News. Lincoln KOLN.