| Summary of Engagement
In 1991, the Minneapolis Foundation retained The Public Strategies Group (then Armajani, Hutchinson & James, Inc.) to analyze the budget of Hennepin County from a "customer" or citizen's perspective. Hennepin County is Minnesota's largest county, while the Minneapolis Foundation is the major community foundation in the state.
Results Achieved
A report was prepared and presented by the Foundation to the community entitled: "Citizens' Tools - The Search for Flexibility in Hennepin County's Finances." The report reinforced making the County's budget more understandable to citizens and redesigning county services as if the "customer" really mattered.
The study's chapters included the following:
- Hennepin County: In Business for Citizens.
- Where the Money Goes : Hennepin County's Lines of Business.
- Just How Big is Hennepin County's Budget?
- The Context for Hennepin County Government.
- Where the Money Comes From: Funding the Hennepin County Budget.
- Hennepin County's Financial Position.
- The Budget Process and How to Access It.
- What's Most Important: Hennepin County's Budget Priorities.
- Looking for Flexibility in a Sea of Mandates.
- Budgetary Flexibility to Increase Value.
- What Does It All Mean?
Specific Activities
The major part of this project involved research and analysis of the County's budget. In addition, a group of stakeholders was convened several times to critique the research in progress and the final results.
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