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Rethinking Budgeting 2025 Survey Report

Download the 2025 Rethinking Budgeting Report to See How Your Budgeting Approach Compares

Why Rethinking Budgeting Matters for Your Community

Budgeting is no longer just a back-office process. Today’s most trusted communities are using modern tools to engage residents, align spending with real priorities, and build public trust.

This report reveals:

Barriers to Modernization

Legacy systems, siloed planning, and limited engagement slow progress.

How Leaders Are Evolving

Top jurisdictions use data, transparency, and public input to drive better budgeting.

Where to Start Changing

Community engagement and performance budgeting are top entry points for transformation.

Results from the Local Government Budget Survey

The latest Rethinking Budgeting Survey Report is now available, offering insights from over 200 local government budget leaders across the country.

This report, created in partnership between Polco and the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), uncovers how finance professionals are adapting their practices to be more transparent, agile, and community-driven.

Download the Report
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Move From Insight to Action With Polco

If you're ready to bring your budget process into the modern era, Polco can help. Our Rethinking Budgeting solution offers a full suite of tools to transform how your organization approaches finance and engagement.

Explore Our Tools:

Budget Simulation Tools
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Budget Simulation Tools

Interactive budget simulations that educate and involve your residents.

Track Community Analytics
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Polco Platform Icon - Community Analytics

Track Community Analytics

Performance dashboards that connect data to decision-making.

Benchmark Surveys
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Benchmark Surveys

Scientifically valid surveys that reveal what your community really thinks.

Polco is trusted by 1,000+ communities nationwide

Polco supports leaders like you with the tools, data, and engagement strategies to build smarter budgets and stronger communities.

70k-outline

Data on 70k jurisdictions

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30 million voices represented

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30+ years of resident input

Let’s Talk About Your Budget

Want to bring these strategies to life in your community? Schedule a call with a Polco budgeting specialist. We’ll walk through your current process and help you map out your next steps.