Strategic Plan

A strategic plan addresses specific community needs and implements a shared vision within a specific time period. Strategic plans are often developed for a five-year timeframe or less. A comprehensive plan is a policy tool for the Village Board to provide the basis for future decisions on regulations, funding, and the built environment. Comprehensive plans establish long-range, general goals and policies for elements of the community like physical, social, and economic development in a coordinated manner.

https://www.seirpc.com/comprehensive-strategic-planning#:~:text=Strategic%20plans%20are%20often%20developed,funding%2C%20and%20the%20built%20environment. 

Communities who have engaged in strategic planning have noticed that strategic plans provide clear guidance on the goals of the governing body to the Village Administrator, and they communicate to employees that what they do is important and has a purpose. Finally, the strategic plan helps the Village Administrator prioritize the work in the organization and the limited financial resources available during the budget process. The benefits are categorized in three major sections: accountability tool, prioritization tool, and communication tool.¹

As an Accountability Tool

• The Village Administrator can report progress on goals and strategies in monthly or quarterly reports to the Village Board.
• The Village Board can use the strategic plan as part of their annual evaluation process of the Village Administrator. 
• Providing regular updates in the Village Board agenda packet also provides updates to the public. Residents can track progress on projects, goals, and strategies on a regular basis. 

As a Prioritization Tool

• The Village Administrator can allocate staff resources to the priorities of the Village Board. 
• The Village Board can appropriate financial resources through the annual budget process to support their agreed upon priorities as identified in the strategic plan.
• The connection to the strategic plan and financial resource allocation through the budget process also supports transparency in the use of public funds. By using the strategic plan as a "explanatory tool," we can answer the question, "Why did we do that?"

As a Communication Tool

• A strategic plan is used to communicate to residents the vision of the Village Board and what they want to achieve as their representatives.
• The strategic plan communicates to the Village Administrator what is important and where to allocate staff and financial resources.
• Further, the strategic plan communicates to staff why they do what they do and how they support the vision of the governing body

https://icma.org/page/strategic-planning-small-communities-managers-manual 

Strategic planning is an active process that engages residents, the Village Board and the Village Administrator and staff to develop a vision for the community. Strategic planning and a better budget process won't solve all the Village's problems, but it will help the community remember that while the national debates and discussions over issues of incredible importance matter deeply to us, good governance must go on. Revenues must be predicted, budgets must be balanced, bills paid, and services rendered. If the Village of Belleville wants to be more than we already are, we must do things with a future in mind.