Budgeting for Social Equity: Exploring the (Nearly) Unknown

Abstract

Public administration has become increasingly concerned with social equity in recent years; however, the incorporation of social equity into the budget process has remained under-explored. In this study, we explore social equity budgeting at the local level. Based on interviews with local government budget directors and analysis of documents, we develop a framework of social equity budgeting that explains the factors—systemic, societal, political, managerial, legal, and others—involved in a local government’s adoption of social equity priorities in the public budgeting process. We identify several themes underlying successful adoption of a social equity lens in budgeting: broad grassroots efforts, receptive elective leaders, extended community engagement, buy-in by public administrators, and continual discussion of how to measure social equity.

Keywords: Social Equity, Public Budgeting, Local Government Finance