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About the Book

Government is broke. The 2004 federal deficit is the highest in U.S. history. The states have suffered three years of record shortfalls. Cities, counties, and school districts are laying off policemen and teachers, closing schools, and cutting services. But the fiscal pain won’t go away, and the bankrupt ideologies of left and right offer little guidance. The Price of Government presents a radically different approach to budgeting—one that focuses on buying results for citizens rather than cutting or adding to last year’s spending programs. It advocates consolidation, competition, customer choice, and a relentless focus on results to save millions while improving public services.

Reviews

“A how-to manual for a local or state government that wants to redesign its budget to emphasize and maximize results.”

—Minneapolis Star-Tribune

“David Osborne has been preaching the reinvention of government since the mid-1980s, peddling practical, road-tested ideas for delivering value for the tax dollar. Now, with Peter Hutchinson…he’s done it again.”

—Washington Post

“If you care about the future of American government, read this book…. We must fundamentally reinvent the way we spend the public’s money…. This book shows us the way.”

—Al Gore

About the Authors

David Osborne, author of Laboratories of Democracy, is a frequent contributor to the Washington Post, Governing, and other publications. He is also a consultant to state and local governments.Ted Gaebler, former city manager of Visalia, California, and Vandalia, Ohio, is president of the Gaebler Group, a division of MRC, a public-sector management-consulting firm, in San Rafael, California.

Peter Hutchinson is founder and President of The Public Strategies Group. He previously served as Commissioner of Finance in Minnesota, where he introduced several innovations in state budgeting and fiscal management. He lives in St. Paul, Minnesota.