I look at it a little more optimistically...sure departments try to spend every last penny of their budget so that they don't lose that funding. That's a given.

I look at it a little more optimistically...sure departments try to spend every last penny of their budget so that they don't lose that funding. That's a given. What if departments could spend every last penny BETTER? Maybe its true that saving money isn't a priority, but spending money on things that have the most impact, or that get the most value is a priority. I work for OpenGov, so I hear this from our customers (who work in government) all the time.