Entrepreneurial American Community Award

For its strategic planning and budgeting process that links funds in the budget directly to eight major goals to create more effective budgets.

When Hillsborough County, a growing county on Tampa Bay in western Florida, set out to make its biennial budget in 2004, it had a vision to become one of the best counties in the United States. This vision included a more efficient government and a budget that reflected the County’s strategic goals and objectives while supporting innovative programs that did not increase the general fund (property) tax for its residents. Today, Hillsborough County boasts some of the most progressive funding strategies, which allow them to succeed in creating a sustainable, quality environment that nurtures and supports families and individuals in the most effective and efficient manner possible.

When County Administrator Pat Bean took command in 2004 and began working on the budget, she and other County officials realized that strategic plans, while often made by government bodies, often sat on shelves with no plan for realization. Rather than allowing this to happen, the County developed eight Strategic Goals and Objectives with measurable outcomes that would serve as the prioritization mechanism for all new budget requests. These eight goals have already begun to improve the efficacy of County funds throughout the region, and include such items as improving the economic well-being of County citizens, providing a quality of life in a visually pleasing and healthy community, and creating a desirable place by managing growth.

Not only did the County prioritize new budget requests, but Bean also challenged each department to find at least 3 percent more efficiency in its own budget. This challenge located 17 million dollars in savings in the last budget cycle, which were then redirected towards the eight Strategic Goals and Objectives, resulting in a ‘double-win’ for the County. Furthermore, the County has implemented two programs under their strategic goals that are fully funded with special levies. With a 1/2 cent sales tax approved by referendum, Hillsborough County is able to provide over 80 million dollars a year to cover primary health care, specialist care and hospitalization to individuals who are at or below federal government poverty standards. Another special 1/2 cent tax fully funds library operation for the County’s 28 libraries and construction for new libraries.

Hillsborough County has tackled one of the most important and contentious subjects in government – the effective allocation of funds to achieve a better quality of life for residents and to support stronger economic development. By seeking out new models for governance, Hillsborough County continues to show its dedication towards being not only the best county, but also one of the most innovative in the United States.