Today, Rick Snyder released the first in a series of reform measures from his Top 10 Guiding Principles to Reinventing Michigan, entitled Value For Money Budgeting. Falling under his effort to fix Michigan’s broken government, Value for Money Budgeting is an innovative budget approach that engages citizens in determining how their tax dollars should be spent and tracks progress against goals in a transparent way. To view the proposal, click here.

“It’s time for long-term solutions and leadership to put an end to Michigan’s chronic budget problems. Value for Money Budgeting takes the decision making process out of Lansing’s backrooms and puts it back into Michigan’s communities. It puts the power in the hands of the citizens of Michigan, rather than the hands of special interests,” said Snyder. “It brings accountability and performance-based measurements to guarantee taxpayers are getting the best value for their money and it will ensure that state government is reporting outcomes in a transparent way so that our citizens, prospective businesses and potential residents can track Michigan’s progress. Rather than continue with a broken process that consistently threatens funding for our schools, hospitals, roads and communities, we need a 21st century budget process that ensures stability and encourages innovation.”

“The current administration and career politicians have offered us empty rhetoric about reform priorities and while failing to offer fiscal responsibility through one of the worst economic downturns in Michigan’s history. I am running for Governor to provide the committed leadership we need to stand up for the citizens of this state and replace talk with action and results. As this campaign continues, I am going to continue to offer common sense reforms and solutions to the problems that are holding our state back. Together, we are going to lay the foundation for reinventing Michigan so that we can climb out of this economic disaster and move into an era of innovation.”

About Value For Money Budgeting

What Value For Money budgeting is: The citizens of Michigan ought to have the first say in how their tax dollars are spent, and the state must ensure its citizens actually get what they pay for. Value For Money budgeting accomplishes this. It’s an innovative approach to budgeting that begins by asking citizens how their tax dollars should be spent and setting tangible ways to measure the success of every state program.

How it differs from Michigan’s current budget system: In Michigan today the budget system is a tool of special interests and lobbyists who don’t care – or even ask – what Michiganders want. They use money and political favors to influence Lansing into spending state dollars on their priorities. The result is a spending plan with no connection to the needs of our state. Poor fiscal management and a lack of oversight mean the people of Michigan never even know whether they receive the services their tax dollars supposedly pay for.

Why Value For Money Budgeting: Value For Money works because it takes the budget-writing process out of Capitol building backrooms and puts it into our communities. It’s a system that: 1) puts citizens first in determining budget priorities, 2) determines what a successful budget would look like, 3) selects effective strategies for achieving citizens’ budget goals, 4) examines state government to ensure services are being delivered in the most efficient – and cost-effective – way, 5) takes a multi-year view rather than a short-sighted one, 6) sets real measures for whether money is paying for what was intended, and 7) regularly reports back to the citizens so they can hold government accountable.

Where it Has Worked: Washington State reduced a $2.4 billion deficit without raising taxes by asking citizens to tell government leaders what goals they should focus on… Iowa’s Department of Transportation saved $35 million annually by engaging citizens and ordering a comprehensive review of all services and management… Charlotte, NC’s population doubled in the 1990s, but 26 departments were consolidated into 9 and the municipal workforce was reduced by 8%, while surveys indicated greater than 80% approval of nearly all services.

Why Rick is the Right Candidate To Put Value For Money In Place: Yes, Value For Money is a simple concept. So why hasn’t it been put in place in Michigan before? Because a lack of leadership in Lansing. Politicians placed the desires of special interests before the needs of our state. Rick Snyder is the only candidate who has the leadership necessary to take this innovative and important idea and put it into practice.

To read the full proposal, please click here.