Public speaker urges county to adopt strategic, multi‑year budgeting process
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Summary
A local policy advocate told the court that a budget is a moral document and urged commissioners to adopt a rolling three‑year strategic planning process linking values, priorities and budgets.
Dr. Harriet Harrell, speaking during the budget portion of Tuesday’s meeting, told commissioners the county’s budget should be guided by a strategic planning process that includes elected officials, residents and community stakeholders.
"A budget is a moral document," Harrell said, adding that a county choosing very low tax rates should be honest about the services that will not be funded. She urged the court to publish values, select top priorities and adopt a rolling three‑year framework with measurable outcomes and public reporting.
Commissioners acknowledged the point; the court’s budget staff said there are follow‑up workshops on FY‑26 and that several budget items will return for additional discussion.
Why it matters: Harrell’s comments reinforce calls from civic leaders for more transparent, outcome‑focused budgeting in rapidly growing counties where tax, service and infrastructure tradeoffs are politically sensitive.