Free Idea Friday

Ideas are easy. Execution is hard. Every Friday I will share an idea that's been rolling around in my head that I have neither the time nor the where-with-all to execute. Remember, it's free, so take it for what it's worth. 

Selling The Future

Just like banks and homeowners, local governments were seduced by the housing bubble and built a financial future predicated on ever increasing home prices.

Now falling property values have cut revenues for local governments as much as 20% over the past two years. And believe it or not, there's just not that much waste in your typical municipal budget.

This is the case in Beverly Hills, Michigan where my brother is a village councilman. Seeing the impending financial crisis, they've already frozen salaries, cut health care benefits, not replaced retiring workers an yet they're still forecasting a $1.5 million dollar deficit.

So they now have two choices: cut essential services or raise taxes. And that's the challenge.

When people who would rather not have their taxes increased (my guess is that's most people) are confronted with losing 5 to 6 public safety officers, 2 village staff members, the closing of the local library and cuts in other services, they feel they are being threatened.

How do you get people to hold their noses and vote for a tax increase so they can still enjoy free books, safety and weekly garbage collection?

First, realize that this is an argument that won't be won with facts. We're talking about core values here. Deeply held beliefs. It's almost religious. So no rational argument will change peoples' minds.

Second, the problem stems from a co-dependent relationship that lacks fundamental trust. People need government to do a lot of things but they don't trust it to do anything well and efficiently. The council needs the people to provide it with the funding to provide services, but feel that the people don't value those services appropriately.

So here's what I'd do.

I'd take a page out of Ronald Reagan's playbook and sell the future. Don't make the argument about how bad things are and how much worse they'll be if you don't vote for a tax increase. Make it about how good the future can be. Then tie that future directly to their wallets.

"While other communities are willing to let their streets and communities fall apart, Beverly Hills will invest in the future so our property values will remain the strongest in the Metro Detroit area."

Put it together in a comprehensive plan with all the facts and reasons to believe it will work and brand it with a name that people can't argue with. That was the brilliance of "The Patriot Act" and "No Child Left Behind".

People follow leaders and leaders inspire with a vision for the future. That's what the council needs to present to the citizens of Beverly Hills if they want them to approve a millage increase to save police and firefighters jobs.