Small is Beautiful: Knowledge Management and Budget Reform in a Rural County

Are small governments capable of adopting significant administrative reforms? Do they possess the capacity and sufficient organizational resources to adapt to legislative mandates, new technologies or changing environments? This case study explores these questions by examining the development and implementation of a performance budget by Schuyler County, New York’s departmental administrators. The case illustrates how leadership fostered a collaborative culture that enabled the development of the requisite skills and knowledge necessary to implement the administrative reform. In the end, the county created a performance based budget that was a significant improvement over its previous line item budget.