COVID-19 has deepened many citizens’ relationship with their local governments. In the United States, citizens are focused on both the federal government’s response and that of their local governments, which have been highly influential on the overall pandemic response in any given part of the country. In the short term, this focus led to a surge in public trust. Yet, while times of crisis might momentarily bring about more trust between citizens and the government, local governments can’t count on this public trust to last long without additional efforts.
For example, while many governments saw a surge in public trust at the outset of the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020, a global survey by Deloitte shows that by January 2021, the trust in government had fallen by 8 points, highlighting challenges in sustaining trust for extended periods.
This deficit in trust is not just a theoretical concept; it has real-world implications. It can directly affect a government’s long-term goals, including re-election and implementation of policies that were promised during elections. Yet, citizen trust is highly influenced by how governments use their tax dollars. That’s why the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for governments to rethink how they plan and execute their budgets, with a new commitment to transparency. So, how can governments change their approach to budgeting to create new layers of transparency and sustain public trust?
americancityandcounty.com
Written by Charlie Francis
1st October 2021