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Hey there, local government folks! It’s Budgeting Bear, your friendly expert in all things related to embedding strategic priorities into your budget process. I’m here to talk about the bear-y exciting upcoming 2024 ICMA Conference in Pittsburgh!
This is one event you don’t want to hibernate through, so let’s dive into what’s happening and where you can find me and Envisio.
Where to Find Envisio at ICMA 2024
Swing by Booth 817 in the exhibit hall from Sunday, September 22nd to Tuesday, September 24th. Say hi to Elizabeth, Mike, Madison, Stefan, Angela, and Trish! The Envisio team has an excellent lineup of activities, including:
Live Demos: Get paws-on with our tools for strategy implementation, performance management, and modernized budgeting practices!
Budgeting Bear Giveaways: Be one of the first 50 visitors to stop by and ask us about how our unique partnership with Tyler Technologies supports you in achieving the new Rethinking Budgeting recommendations and snag some beary cute, limited edition giveaways!
Totes & Treats: Don’t fur-get to pick up a reusable blue Envisio bag. Grrreat for the environment and paws-itively the best way to carry around your exhibit hall sweet treats.
While you’re at our booth, check out our video: “The Power of a Public Dashboard with Envisio.” Four cities present their Envisio-powered dashboards to council members for the first time!
“GovTechForGood” Mixer Event!
After a full day of conferencing, join us for a party at the City Winery Pittsburgh on Sunday, September 22nd at 6:30 PM ET.
Co-hosted by Citibot, Deckard Technologies, Envisio, FlashVote, HdL Companies, and Library Systems & Services, this will be a really fun night of networking, snacks, drinks, and live music. Plus, we’ll be raffling off prizes! All proceeds go to a great cause—Pittsburgh Scholar House.
Bear in mind—space is limited, so register early!
Sessions You Can’t Miss
Now, what kind of local government budgeting genius would I be if I didn’t tell you about some must-attend sessions on budgeting innovation?
Rethinking Budgeting: How You Can Adapt Your Budget to Today’s Challenges
Sunday, September 22nd | 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM | Room 310-311
This session is right up my alley. Shayne Kavanagh, Mark McAvoy, Craig Owens, and Kevin Knutson will talk to us about the key recommendations of Rethinking Budgeting, including the need to align your budget with your strategic priorities, fairness and agility in budgeting, and how to adapt budgeting processes as the needs of our communities get more complex.
Trust Matters: How Data and Engagement Can Strengthen Local Government
September 23, 2024 | 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM | Room 306-307
At the David L. Lawrence Convention Center
This session will explore how data-driven decision-making and intentional engagement can help bridge the trust gap. You’ll hear success stories and learn creative strategies to engage residents and strengthen community trust.
Presenters Matt Fulton, Jamie Verbrugge, and Kate Parmelee will guide you through how reliable data can help communities align resources and enhance decision-making. Be sure to attend for insights and tips on how to foster a more connected, trusted relationship with your community!
Modernizing Budgeting: A Shift to Priority-Based Budgeting
Monday, September 23rd | 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM | Room 407
My favorite topic! If there is one session not to miss, it’s this one. This will be a standout session that will give everyone the opportunity to understand more about priority-based budgeting (PBB).
Join the world’s top expert on PBB Chris Fabian and learn about the key distinctions between various budgeting methods, including line-item, program, priority-based, performance, and participatory budgeting.
Participants will also learn how to shift from incremental line-item budgeting practices to priority-based budgeting, ensuring you can better serve your community’s changing needs.
I’ll bear witness to the fact that this session is packed with insights on how to make your budget more effective and adaptable.
See you soon, Pittsburgh!
So there you have it, folks! Come find me—Budgeting Bear—at the 2024 ICMA Conference in Pittsburgh. See you soon, and remember: good budgeting and strategic alignment doesn’t have to be some grizzly task!
Budgeting Bear
With his instinct for fiscal stewardship and a nose for efficient resource allocation, Budgeting Bear is all about making sure every community gets its paws on the best, most strategically aligned budget possible. Fund the plan, achieve the plan!
Having earned his stripes (or should we say fur) from Bearvard School of Finance, Budgeting Bear has clawed his way to the top—advising notable bear-based municipalities like Grizzly Falls, Kodiak Junction, and the ever-popular Pawtucket. His ability to help local governments navigate the financial wilderness has made him a household name.
Whether working with city officials in Bear Lake or aligning strategic goals in Grizzly Grove, Budgeting Bear always ensures that communities get more than just the bare necessities—without overspending, or cutting unnecessarily. He’s been known to hibernate on tough budget decisions—because sometimes, a good nap really helps you balance those books!
He’s worked with some real legends, too—collaborating with Yogi on food distribution strategies, and helping Paddington with his import/export policies for marmalade. Recently, he has been adopting Smokey's focus on prevention—ensuring governments prevent fiscal wildfires through proactive budget planning.
In his bear time, he loves kicking back with a good picnic basket.
