If your organization or initiative is facing an announced municipal budget cut, all is not lost. Savings need to be consulted and approved by a political majority before they become a reality. So if you think the municipality is making a mistake, you still have the chance to convince them to drop the cuts.
In this blog post, we share tips and tools on everything from stakeholder engagement to which arguments resonate in politics. And we take a look at a specific task Mark helped to solve.
Bookends
In the spring of 2018, the Social Administration of the City of Copenhagen put forward a proposal for budget reprioritization that would mean such large savings on the Book Support in Fountain House that the initiative would have to turn the key.
The book grant helps mentally vulnerable young people through their higher education. Despite the fact that the majority of young people have serious mental health diagnoses, many of them succeed in getting a diploma and a permanent full-time job afterwards – it’s a bit of a sunshine story.
The people behind Bogstøtten were at a loss and asked for help to raise awareness. The Rotary and Kemp & Kjær organizations advised The Bookend – and helped ensure that the messages were served to the municipality’s politicians in a way that gave them a better chance of being heard.
It was very much a joint effort, with many good forces contributing. Among other things, we followed these four steps to help the Bookend:
1. Refute the arguments
The first step is to thoroughly familiarize yourself with the arguments for the savings. The municipality can easily make mistakes in their justifications and assumptions, and in that case, it’s your job to make them aware of it.
In the case of Bogstøtten, the social services were in doubt as to whether the young users were “mentally ill” or “mentally vulnerable”, which was central to whether it was the municipality’s responsibility. It was a technicality of great importance – and if it could be disproved, it would be more difficult to gather a political majority for the savings when it came to consultation.
Finding both quantitative and qualitative evidence is optimal. For example, a survey supported by individuals telling their story. Book Aid did just that and got members to tell personal stories about how they were helped into education and work despite serious mental health diagnoses.
Write these stories down as quotes so you can present them at the hearing – and maybe even use them to generate press coverage.
2. Mobilize your stakeholders
Let others speak up for you. It’s to be expected that organizations that stand to lose money will complain. Your voice will therefore not be given the same weight as others in media and hearings.
Seek new voices from as many different perspectives as possible. You’re bound to have a number of collaborators who will be happy to help if asked.
Find experts who have a logical link to your initiative. Think about who your local politicians will listen to the most. Researchers? Politicians in parliament? The president of an organization?
Get your stakeholders to tell you why they think saving your initiative is a bad idea – and ask them if you can quote them on it.
Create a broad defense so that it’s clear that your initiative has popular, professional and possibly political support. Then you are in the strongest position.
3. Use socio-economic arguments
It’s tempting to let your emotions do the talking if the initiative you’re passionate about is at risk of being shut down. But in Danish politics, arguments are almost always based on socio-economic interests. It’s part of the political language, so politicians are more responsive if you speak on their terms.
Can you document or make it likely that an announced saving will mean that the municipality may risk spillover costs in other areas or increased costs in the long term? This increases your chances that the municipality will listen to you and your case.
You can make socio-economic arguments in many ways. Use studies or get experts to explain how the savings will have a negative impact on the economy. Then you have a good chance that politicians will take you seriously.
When Bogstøtten was about to be cut, they contacted a number of experts, researchers and organizations that they knew were on their side. They were able to report that closing Book Support would mean fewer people in education, fewer people in work – and thus more costs for expensive welfare payments and psychiatric hospitalizations.
4. See the world from your “opponent’s” side
It’s often easier to win people over if you listen to their arguments and save them from losing face. Think about how you can approach the municipality: Maybe it’s time to look for alternative funding, such as foundations? Maybe you can agree to halve the municipal support over five years if your initiative starts applying for funding?
Whichever path you choose, it’s important to look at the “opponent’s” starting point and their reasons for wanting to save on your initiative. Then you can gauge counter-arguments or whether you can meet halfway.
Many ways to succeed
There are many ways to fight back against a cost-cutting announcement. But our tips can help you influence the decision with relatively little effort.
Some initiatives have more potential to move politicians than others. Bogstøtten had a strong case that could be translated into socio-economic arguments. We’re glad we were able to help Bogstøtten and their users – and are happy to report that the initiative is still helping mentally vulnerable young people get an education.
Contact Mark and Jakob for sparring on political communication.
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