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End-to-end encryption: What it is and why it matters<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Ideally, budget plans are established early enough that you don\u2019t have an excess of funds to go through in the final weeks of the year. However, if you do, there are a number of effective ways to maximize the usefulness of your remaining municipal budget funds.<\/span><\/p>\n Today, we’ll cover:<\/p>\n A true use-it-or-lose-it budget means that if you don\u2019t spend the total budget during the time in which it is allocated, you lose access to the unspent funds.<\/span><\/p>\n In addition to missing out on opportunities to complete important projects, unspent funds influence future budget decisions by legislators. The assumption is that if your agency didn\u2019t use the funds available, there is no need to allocate as much money in upcoming years. In essence, failing to spend what you have creates a double-whammy.<\/span><\/p>\n The specific implications of an unspent municipal budget vary somewhat. Budgets appropriated by local, state, and federal governments come with defined terms by which the budget is managed. In some cases, unspent funds are reallocated to your agency, office, or department budget for the upcoming year.<\/span><\/p>\n In some cases, budgeted amounts are tied to specific projects. In such cases, you might be able to apply remaining funds to that project if it is started during the current year, but completed in the upcoming year. Review relevant legislation or appropriation contracts to know for sure what happens to unspent money in your situation.<\/span><\/p>\n Given the drawbacks of an unspent municipal budget, consider how your agency can best use your end-of-year budget. Even if you don\u2019t have pressing financial needs, you might have some backburner projects that you can move up in your timeline.<\/span><\/p>\n Here are 11 ideas on how you can spend your end-of-year, use-it-or-lose-it municipal budget wisely:<\/span><\/p>\n One of the most surefire ways to put your remaining budget to good use is with a communications system upgrade. A modern digital communications infrastructure radically improves internal efficiency and enhances your effectiveness in meeting the needs of your citizens. <\/span><\/p>\n A comprehensive, cloud-based platform allows agents to seamlessly move from one communication platform to another in a safe, secure environment.<\/span> According to a report from RingCentral<\/span><\/a>, government organizations saw at least a 57% increase in staff satisfaction after improving their unified communications.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As you shop for a cloud communications platform, it’s a good idea to look for all-in-one solutions. Having a single vendor for all your channels streamlines invoices and technical support. RingCentral is one powerful, feature-rich platform that includes everything you need for in-person, hybrid, and remote teams:<\/p>\n Over time, it is common for employees to forget best practices when completing routine or periodic tasks. Investing in a retraining program can boost quality and productivity for your government workers. <\/span>37% of organizations also saw an increase in employee productivity after unifying their communications tools.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When you upgrade your communications platform, look for features that support training programs, such as video conferencing capabilities, SMS messaging for internal teams, and other collaboration tools<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n If your agency organizes end-of-year community or holiday events, extra funds could boost the reach or impact of the events. If you haven\u2019t done so, putting some of the municipal budget twoard these events may allow you to get creative in coming up with ways to boost community engagement.<\/span><\/p>\n Citizen engagement has become a priority at all levels of government. To effectively engage citizens, it is helpful to know preferred methods of interaction and types of content citizens want. Surveys, focus groups, and other research methods can offer useful insight. You might also find useful analytics<\/a> provided in your communications platform that may help you discern preferred methods and channels of communication<\/a> for your communities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With extra funds on hand, it is a good time to grow your agency\u2019s creative skillset through targeted skill-building and cross-training. Broader and deeper skillsets contribute to higher productivity and better public service. They also minimize the negative impacts caused by short-term and long-term employee absences.<\/span><\/p>\n Expansion of broadband internet and digital technology attract more interest from hackers. Cybersecurity has never been more important to government organizations. Evaluate your existing systems, identify opportunities for risk reduction, and consider software security protocols when upgrading your digital infrastructure. This also helps protect the identity of your citizens and staff when implemented with a unified communications platform.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n
\n<\/a>What is a “use-it-or-lose-it” municipal budget?<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/a>What happens to unspent municipal budgets?<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/a>11 ways to spend your use-it-or-lose-it budget before it’s gone<\/span><\/h2>\n
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<\/a>1. Upgrade your communications technology<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\n
Pro tip: All-in-one platforms make payments easier<\/h3>\n
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<\/a>2. Invest in retraining programs<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/a>3. Hold fundraisers<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/a>4. Embark on research projects<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/a>5. Work on skill development and cross-training<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/a>6. Prioritize digital security<\/span><\/h2>\n
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