Communicating your budget

You’ve spent months putting together your budget for 2008/2009, but how are you going to take it to your community?

There’s usually only a small amount of space in the local paper devoted to the council budget and that may not quite get your message across the way you’d like it to sound.

Have you considered a dedicated page on your website with the budget highlights and fact sheets and a pointer to that page on your home page? Perhaps a newsletter to go with the next rate notice with a message from the mayor and some budget facts would be appreciated by ratepayers. Even if the budget is tight and there’s been some rate rises or service cuts, the community always appreciates being aware of what to expect and the reason behind the decision making. Plus, if you’re in control of your budget communications, you can offset the ‘bad’ news with the positives. Budget time is a great example of how marketing and communications can develop and protect your relationship with your community.