Make Budget Messaging Unboring

If your residents aren’t paying attention, your facts don’t matter

This week’s idea: If you want people to care about your budget, you’ve got to earn their attention. And yes, sometimes that means letting your freak flag fly.

Budgets are essential, but let’s be honest: They’re often a snooze-fest. That’s why cities like Arlington and Round Rock turned to Legos, Barbie, and even a fake infomercial pitchman to break through the noise. These quirky efforts got laughs and delivered serious information about tax rates, new spending, and core services.

The key: lead with creativity, follow with clarity, and always tell the truth.

Need proof it works? 👇

Let’s talk about talking about budgets, Part I

🔹 More Good Governance Briefs on budget communication every Wednesday this month

🔹 Coming Friday: Part 4 of our High Performance Communications series. This time we look at Branding, and why it’s more than logos and taglines; it’s how your community sees and trusts your work.

Onward and Upward.