City of Oak Harbor is an Early Adopter and Leader in Rethinking Public Budgeting

Oak Harbor, WA, has joined the inaugural Rethinking Budgeting Trailblazers Group, a collaboration designed to modernize public budgeting practices. This initiative replaces the outdated 1997 framework established by the National Advisory Council on State and Local Budgeting. As the first city to participate, Oak Harbor aligns itself with municipalities like Minnetonka, Minnesota, and Port Moody, British Columbia, in seeking a more equitable budgeting process. Deputy City Administrator David Goldman noted that this opportunity allows Oak Harbor to lead in innovation within government finance. The Trailblazers Group's mission focuses on creating a repeatable model for local governments and fostering a nationwide community of practice.

Members will collaborate on new tools, case studies, and educational resources to improve public budgeting. This initiative is crucial for enhancing transparency and responsiveness to community needs. By adopting this modern approach, Oak Harbor aims to inspire other cities to follow suit in transforming their budgeting practices.