Tyler Technologies presents updated priority-based budgeting tool to San Juan County
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Summary
Tyler Technologies consultant Jesse Muniz presented an updated priority-based budgeting (PBB) inventory and analytics for San Juan County, reporting 126 identified programs, improved cost allocations and new tools to align spending with county priorities ahead of the FY27 budget cycle.
Jesse Muniz, head of customer success for Tyler Technologies’ priority-based budgeting division, told the San Juan County Board of County Commissioners on March 3 that the vendor updated the county’s PBB system to provide clearer program inventories and cost allocations ahead of the FY27 budget process.
Muniz said the recent work reduced the county’s program inventory to 126 distinct decision units and allocated 295 personnel line items and about 1,700 non-personnel line items into those programs. "We consider it a unique, innovative approach that's really helping local governments... ensuring that they're allocating funds based on your community needs and your priorities," Muniz said.
The presentation included summary metrics Muniz identified as important for future budgeting: 53% of programs were rated as highly aligned with the county’s strategic priorities; roughly 29% of programs are sole-county providers; 69% (about 87 programs) were identified as mandated by law; 54% show increasing demand; and 39% recover some costs. Muniz emphasized the system’s ability to produce per-program cost and staffing reports and to surface "insights" such as opportunities to streamline duplicate services or to pursue fee recovery.
Commissioners questioned how the PBB scoring treats legally mandated services that nonetheless score low against multiple strategic priorities. "Seeing this as a misaligned doesn't mean that it's less important than any other programs," Muniz replied, adding that a program could be mandated yet touch only one priority (for example, juvenile detention touching primarily public safety), which results in a lower composite score and flags it for efficiency and service-level review.
Muniz said the county will roll out the refinements in advance of a strategic planning retreat and the FY27 budget cycle and that the tool will allow staff to run reports showing program costs, mandates, demand trends and potential cost-recovery opportunities. The commission did not take formal action on the PBB presentation; staff and vendor said they will continue to refine analyses and share reports with departments before budget decisions.
For now, the county’s PBB data provides a structured way for commissioners and staff to evaluate trade-offs, he said, from identifying programs for possible redesign to considering revenue options or, as a last resort, tax or fee changes. The county manager and staff signaled intent to use the updated system in FY27 budget planning.
The commission’s next steps include receiving further program-level reports from staff and vendors and using the tool at the strategic planning retreat and subsequent budget deliberations.
