Cutback Management Strategies: Experiences in Nine County Human Service Agencies

ABSTRACT This study of nine county human services agencies identified successful strategies and tactics used to address budget reductions and the management tools/processes used to inform these decisions. Tactics were in areas including minimizing the impacts of budget cuts; building staff understanding, acceptance, and support; processes for deciding how to allocate cuts; increasing productivity; and modifying levels and types of services. Strategic themes included collaborative leadership, taking a big picture approach, maintaining focus through strategic planning, relationships with key constituencies, communication with staff, preserving staff capacity, decentralized decision making, and using data to guide decisions. Implications for practice are discussed.