County Evidence-Based Budgeting Guide
According to the U.S. Census, counties invest over $743 billion each year in programs and services that directly impact the lives of millions of Americans. And yet decision-makers can’t always prove that county spending decisions will produce the intended results. By investing in programs that are proven to make lives better, counties can deliver on the promise of moving their communities forward. Results for America’s County Evidence-Based Budgeting Guide is designed to help county leaders invest in what works and ensure taxpayer dollars achieve results their communities can count on. By providing evidence that government programs are effective, county leaders can ensure that they are maximizing their impact and building trust with residents.
The Guide details five action steps that county officials can take to deliver results for residents:
1. Establish a definition of evidence
2. Implement budget instructions and templates that collect evidence information
3. Establish guidelines, goals or targets for the use of evidence
4. Provide evidence indicators in public budget documents
5. Report on budget decisions made for evidence-based interventions
County Budgeting for What Works Sprint
Counties across the nation are navigating an era of fiscal uncertainty. In the wake of the pandemic recovery funding cliff, rising inflation, shifting federal funding priorities, and potential volatility in securing municipal bonds, local governments face mounting financial pressure. To meet this challenge, county decision-makers can adopt a strategic, evidence-based approach that maximizes impact, drives efficiency, and ensures the most effective use of limited resources. By investing in programs that are proven to improve lives as intended, counties can deliver on the promise of moving their communities forward despite limited resources.
Results for America is hosting a five-week sprint to support county leaders in maximizing their impact by embedding evidence into their budget process. The County Budgeting for What Works Sprint equips county officials with the tools, insights, and best practices needed to make evidence-based budgeting decisions. Guided by a team of national experts, participants will leave this opportunity with an understanding of how to define and prioritize evidence in their budget process, an evidence definition for their county, tangible steps for institutionalizing this definition, and a network of peers who are engaged with the same efforts.
When will the session be held?
Weekly virtual workshops will be held at 1:00 – 2:30 PM EDT from May 28, 2025 through June 25, 2025. Participants are also invited to attend post-Sprint, in-person office hours at the Government Finance Officers Association Annual Conference in Washington, DC on June 30th. More information to come!
Who Should Apply?
As a part of the application submission process, prospective participants should identify a small team of staff members who are involved in your county’s budgeting process to attend each session. Upon acceptance, selected participants will receive a syllabus for attendance planning purposes.
Apply to Join by May 5, 2025!
Applications for the County Budgeting for What Works Sprint are open from April 8, 2025 to May 5, 2025 at midnight EDT. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and will be evaluated based on your county’s commitment to achieving the goals of the Sprint, your capacity to embed evidence into the budget process, and your Executive sponsor alignment, support, and engagement. Applicants are required to identify two team members prior to submitting an application:
- Executive Sponsor: Elected official or jurisdiction executive (e.g., CAO, County Executive, County Manager, or COO). This individual must be aware and supportive of participation in the sprint, but is not expected to attend sessions.
- Project Director: Executive, director, or key leader within the county budget or financial office. This individual should have the authority and/or ability to lead the development and adoption of an evidence definition as well as authorize or facilitate systemic changes to the way this definition is built into the county’s budget process. This participant is a core project member expected to attend all five sessions and will serve as a primary County point of contact during the sprint.
Results for America strongly encourages applications from teams with a variety of backgrounds, lived experiences, cultures, and identities. In our experience, multifaceted teams are more likely to solve problems, be innovative, and make better decisions to serve their communities.
Questions? Email us at [email protected].