Oak Harbor, WA — April 15, 2025 - The City of Oak Harbor has joined the inaugural Rethinking Budgeting Trailblazers Group. This group is a collaboration of local governments, academics, and industry leaders from across the U.S. and Canada that are working to transform how public budgeting is done.
The group is helping lead the charge in implementing a modernized and community-centered approach to public budgeting. This initiative replaces the 1997 framework previously adopted by the National Advisory Council on State and Local Budgeting (NACSLB).
As the first City to take part of this initiative, Oak Harbor has become part of a select group of municipalities which includes Minnetonka, Minnesota; Port Moody, British Columbia; and Twin Falls, Idaho, among others. This group will pioneer a new operating system for budgeting that is more transparent, equitable, and responsive to community needs.
“This is an exciting opportunity for Oak Harbor to be on the forefront of innovation in government finance,” said Deputy City Administrator David Goldman. “By participating in this group, we’re helping create a path that other cities can follow.”
The Trailblazers Group’s mission is to inspire and support local governments by building a repeatable model for implementation, showcasing real-world success stories, and fostering a nationwide community of learning and practice. Members will collaborate on the development of new tools, case studies, educational resources, and shared solutions that unlock the full value of modern public budgeting.
For more information about the Rethinking Budgeting initiative, visit the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) website at icma.org/articles/pm-magazine/cities-come-together-forge-new-paths-budgeting and the Government Finance Officers Association www.gfoa.org/rethinking-budgeting.