An Exploratory Study of Priority Based Budgeting: Identification of Public Values and Public Priorities through Citizen Engagement in Government Budgeting Decisions

This qualitative study explored the Priority Based Budgeting (PBB) process and how government leaders can use PBB to engage citizens in budget decision-making by focusing dialogues on public values and priorities. Multiple sources of data were used, including twenty in-depth interviews with government officials and PBB experts. The results found that PBB is a strategic tool for long-term planning that incorporates a collaborative and visionary process. Using grounded theory for data analysis, a Values Based Budgeting Framework was developed based on thirteen propositions that illustrate how civic engagement and civic innovation supports and leverages the successful implementation of PBB. This framework incorporates strategies for capacity building alternatives in program and service delivery and citizen-driven performance measures.;The results of this study found that PBB is a tool for engaging citizens in a strategic planning process that builds the social value of government entities by increasing access, inclusion, transparency, trust, respect, and accountability. The findings indicated that through citizen engagement, PBB: (1) gives voice to the public in government decision-making, (2) builds a shared sense of community that enriches the government organization and the community, (3) allows for a government budgeting strategy that is proactive, innovative, and increases transparency by providing access to understandable information and platforms for meaningful and deliberative dialogues, (4) supports deliberative and participatory governance, (5) builds collaborative partnerships immersed in inclusive planning for the delivery of programs and services, (6) addresses the challenges to internal collaborative conversations by increasing awareness across the organization, enlightening participants of their shared roles, and building trust, and (7) by including performance measures and management as a component of PBB, an opportunity is provided to improve and quantify performance, emphasize customer service, increase communication, and shift the focus to outcomes.