Editor:
Question: Which of the following budget processes analyzes every function within an organization, detects inflated budgets, promotes innovation, and minimizes waste?
SCRD method: Survey local residents (“SCRD Bulletin Board,” Oct. 15 Coast Reporter); establish their priorities followed by consultations to justify a double-digit tax increase. An annual increase of 10 per cent means your taxes double in just seven years! This begs the question – should the SCRD budget be balanced not by more taxes, but by reduction of follies?
Or Zero Base Budgeting: Each function within an organization is analyzed for its needs and costs. The disadvantage, of course, is that managers can be threatened by this and oppose new ideas and changes. And they will argue that the ZBB process is too costly and time-consuming to adopt. The simple answer to this is there are scaled down versions to begin with (we have to take action now, before the well runs dry!).
To gain a greater knowledge of this subject I reviewed the 2019-23 SCRD Strategic Plan before completing this survey. Riveting statements such as taking a “bold and deliberate” approach, “acting with courage and purpose” and the plan “reflects the collective vision” of the SCRD directors were sprinkled throughout this document. A cynical person would be less than inspired by these platitudes. The question that kept popping up in my mind was – why all the gobbledygook (language that is made unintelligible by excessive use of arcane technical terms)? Why not use layman’s terms -– a language that anyone can understand?
But alas, perhaps it’s best to discuss this strategic plan in greater detail another day.
Leopold Bondo, Elphinstone
