City on the Line : How Baltimore Transformed Its Budget to Beat the Great Recession and Deliver Outcomes

In City on the Line, former Baltimore budget director Andrew Kleine asks why the way government does its most important job - deciding how to spend taxpayer dollars - hasn't changed in hundreds of years. Parts memoir, manifesto, and manual, this book tells the story of Baltimore's radical departure from traditional line item budgeting to a focus on outcomes like better schools, safer streets, and stronger neighborhoods--during one of the most tumultuous decades in the city's history. Elected officials, executives, and citizens alike will be equipped to transform budgets in their city, state, or any other mission-driven organization. "City on the Line is about a revolution in public budgeting. Equal parts memoir, manifesto, and manual, it tells the story of a hard luck city fighting through the Great Recession, a budget director trying to lead disruptive change, and a ground-breaking effort to link strategy, budget, and data to get better results for residents"--Back cover