Creating a Common Language with Fiscal Sustainability

Planners struggle with reconciling the often-competing interests of public good and private development, urban and rural perspectives, and the span between citizen values and visions. A contributor to this conundrum is the use of differing languages that prevent mutual understanding. Learn how communities of all sizes can use fiscal sustainability as a common language for discussing common problems and building common solutions that bridge the differences between these perspectives. This session will cover how cities can use the language of fiscal sustainability to:

• Make decisions about land use and development patterns;

• Cultivate prosperity and a local, self-sustaining economy;

• Determine your resource gaps and begin closing them;

• Involve the community in plan implementation;

• Inspire change and build trust in public decision making.

Of course, this common language stems from the ability to quantify and map the performance of your city in its current state. Included will be key examples from cities of various sizes where this process has helped city staff, citizens, developers, and elected officials to focus their efforts and rally around an approach that transcends changes in leadership.

Presenters: Kevin Shepherd and AJ Fawver

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Event Link: https://www.westernplanner.org/2022-conference