Effective and transparent financial management can significantly improve a communities trust in their local government and can improve the organizations ability to accomplish big goals. In this subsection you will find recommendations for how to plan a budget for the long term, what things to assess to improve resiliency, and for creating a budget narrative that communicates community values.

Those creating public policy and those managing human resources in a local government can have a significate impact on creating a community where everyone belongs and is valued. Internally those handling human resources can create a team that is capable, effective, and representative of the community and region. Those creating public policy can work to ensure the whole community is involved in the creation of the policy and share in its benefits. How a municipality hires and trains their team and produces public policy sends a strong signal about what the administration values. In this section you will learn what municipal leadership can do to create a diverse and inclusive working environment and how to develop public policy that provides the opportunity for the whole community to thrive.