Annual Budget and Tax Briefing

Watch Party Goals

The purpose of the watch parties is to help funders:

• Gain a better understanding of this year’s pressing federal budget and tax issues;
• Discuss with peers the implications for programs serving struggling workers, families and communities; and
• Consider grantmaking strategies and opportunities for collaboration with like minded stakeholders.

Why Federal Budget and Tax Policy Matters to State and Local Funders 

States get about one-third of their revenue from the federal government — funds that help pay for health care, schools, housing, roads, child care, job training, and a range of other programs. Unlike the federal government, most states and localities must balance their budgets every year. Revenue growth and unprecedented federal aid will shape many upcoming legislative sessions as states determine funding priorities for the coming year. Policymakers will face critical choices on whether to prioritize tax cuts or investments that will support a robust recovery and reduce long-standing racial and economic inequities that the pandemic exposed and worsened.

Local Watch Party Logistics

• There is no fee to participate.
• As a watch party host, you set up (and co-brand) registration for your watch party.
• Watch parties can view the federal and/or state budget and tax session live or as a recording at a later date. EOF will provide you with a Zoom link to share with registrants.
• Hosts can provide supplemental programming (in-person or virtual), where participants view the federal budget and tax outlook presentation and then engage in a discussion with local experts on how the current landscape impacts critical programs and services in their state or around a particular issue area (e.g. workforce development or child care and early learning). We recommend scheduling your supplemental program within 4 weeks to ensure the content is timely and up-to-date. Watch party hosts can view the federal budget and tax outlook session during their supplemental program or assign it as pre-viewing for their program. Hosts also have the option of sharing the state budget and tax outlook Zoom link or recording as pre-viewing for their program.
• For hosts who don’t have the bandwidth to provide supplemental programming, it is also possible to just share the budget and tax session Zoom link(s) with your registrants.
• We ask that hosts share watch party details (registrants, and date, time, venue, and speakers if applicable) so that we can track participation.
• Watch party hosts will be recognized on the EOF website and meeting materials.

Virtual Budget and Tax Briefing for Grantmakers
[Date, Time]
[Host, Location Address]

Sample Agenda

• PEW Fiscal 50: State Trends and Analysis: This interactive resource from The Pew Charitable Trusts, allows you to sort and analyze data on key fiscal, economic, and demographic trends in the 50 states and understand their impact on states’ fiscal health.
• NCSL State Fiscal Briefs: NCSL Fiscal Briefs are snapshots of timely state budget and tax issues. Check back monthly for the latest brief compiled by NCSL’s Fiscal Affairs Team.
• Urban Institute State Fiscal Briefs: National recessions and federal tax and spending changes can affect budgets in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. And big policy questions, such as whether to increase teacher salaries or expand health care access, can pop up in many states at the same time. But each state faces unique economic, political, cultural, and historical pressures that affect how fiscal issues emerge and how problems are resolved. That’s why the State and Local Finance Initiative put together these 51 briefs, detailing the dynamics that influence major policy issues in each state.