The Price of Government - by David Osborne & Peter Hutchinson (Paperback)

About the Book

From the bestselling co-author of "Reinventing Government" comes timely and important solutions to the most urgent social problem today: how do we get the government we want in an era of permanent fiscal crisis?

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

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

About the Author

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.

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.