University of Nebraska Public Policy Center


June 18, 2013NU | UNL | UNMC | UNO | UNK | IANR 

News and Events

PPC Graduate Student Appointed to Fellowship Program

Joseph Hamm, a Public Policy Center Graduate research assistant and doctoral student in psychology and law, was one of eight UNL students to be appointed to the Center for Great Plains Studies 2013 Graduate Fellows Program.

According to the press release the program "provides a place for select graduate students to work, meet, obtain support, learn from fellow students, engage with Center faculty and staff, benefit from the center's resources and progress in their studies."

Budgeting Outcomes and Priorities in Lincoln (2008)

The goal of this project, initially launched in the winter of 2008 and completed later in the spring, was to solicit public opinion about how the City of Lincoln should spend its tax dollars. A scientific phone survey of 600 randomly selected residents was undertaken by the Public Policy Center, working with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Bureau of Sociological Research. 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. In addition to the phone survey, an online survey was offered for residents to respond to, Leadership Lincoln and the City convened town hall meetings, and a deliberative discussion was held in April. These techniques were intended to give voice to the needs of the entire community rather than special interest groups. After the public input was obtained, Mayor Chris Beutler issued his proposed City budget in May to the City Council and the budget was released to the public in June. The City Council voted on tentative changes to the Mayor’s budget in July. The mandated public hearing was August 11, and the Council adopted the 2008-09 budget on August 25.

Key Partners
City of Lincoln Mayor’s Office; Lincoln Community Foundation; Leadership Lincoln; University of Nebraska Bureau of Sociological Research

Funding
Lincoln Community Foundation grant supplemented with funds from the City of Lincoln

Related Projects
Citizen Input for Budgeting and Performance Management in Lincoln (2009)
City of Lincoln Satisfaction Survey: “Taking Charge” (2010)
Taking Charge 2011
Taking Charge 2012

Press Releases from the Mayor's OfficePDF File
February 12, 2008
March 3, 2008
April 1, 2008
May 29, 2008
June 12, 2008

Related Publications:

Herian, M. N., & Tomkins, A. J. (2012) Citizen satisfaction survey data: A mode comparison of the derived-importance performance approach. American Review of Public Administration, 42(1), 66-86..PDF File

Abdel-Monem, T., Herian, M.N., Neeley, E., & Tomkins, A.J. (2008). Priority Lincoln: Background. PDF File

Abdel-Monem, T., Herian, M.N., Neeley, E., & Tomkins, A.J. (2008). Priority Lincoln: Brief final report. PDF File

Abdel-Monem, T., Herian, M.N., Neeley, E., & Tomkins, A.J. (2008). Priority Lincoln: Budgeting for outcomes.PDF File

In The News
Safety Tops Lincolnites' Priorities. (2008-05-29). Lincoln Journal Star.
In End, Budget Questions Can't be Ducked. (2008-04-23). Lincoln Journal Star.
Residents Uninformed about City Budget. (2008-04-22). Daily Nebraskan.
Budget Survey: Lincolnites Rank Safety, Economic Opportunity High. (2008-04-21). Lincoln Journal Star.
Lincolnites Help City Begin to Budget. (2008-04-12). Lincoln Journal Star.
Take the Survey about How to Spend Money? It Can't Hurt. (2008-04-06). Lincoln Journal Star.
City Budget Survey to Begin This Week. (2008-03-06). Lincoln Journal Star.
Budget Surveys Set to Begin. (2008-03-03). Lincoln Journal Star.
City Works with University to Conduct Tax Survey of Lincolnites. (2008-02-20). Daily Nebraskan.
Cheers for Something New at City Hall. (2008-02-17). Lincoln Journal Star.
Another Tough Budget Year Looms. (2008-02-13). Lincoln Journal Star.
Mayor Wants Public Input on Budget. (2008-02-12). 10-11 News, KOLN.
Mayor's Lincoln Budget Proposal Calls for Cuts. (2008-06-12). KOLNKGIN.com.

Lead Contact:
Name: Alan Tomkins
E-mail: atomkins@nebraska.edu
Phone: (402) 472-5688


Staff Researchers:

Name: Tarik Abdel-Monem
E-mail: tabdelmonem@nebraska.edu
Phone: (402) 472-3147

Name: Mitch Herian
E-mail: mnherian@nebraska.edu
Phone: (402) 472-2520

Name: Elizabeth Neeley
E-mail: lneeley@nebar.com
Phone: (402) 475-7091