When the economy fell into the tank in 2008, it was a defining moment for the city of Las Vegas. Facing a huge budget shortfall, the city not only had to slash its budget but also change the way it did business.

The city council requested that city staff, led by Retired City Manager Betsy Fretwell, review all city services and departments to make sure their programs aligned with council priorities.

Tough decisions about organizational realignment, staff reassignments, and service delivery had to be made. Fretwell, both as deputy city manager and city manager, created an environment in which the city’s employees felt empowered to do what was right for the city and for the community.

Fretwell and her staff made sure that members of the city council were well prepared to make those difficult decisions. A massive amount of data was collected, reports written and rewritten, and frequent meetings kept everyone on track and in the loop.

Critical to the success of the city’s budget balancing efforts were the concession packages from the labor unions. Over a period of a few years, Fretwell, with the support of the council, negotiated wage and benefit concession packages with all four unions, resulting in a savings of $36 million.

Fretwell’s continued commitment to managing relationships with not only the union leadership but with all employees was a key component to achieving this success. She used video messaging, email, and employee town hall meetings to communicate with staff, and attended each department’s staff meetings to employees’ trust and buyin through a very challenging time.

Another important way Fretwell helped the city weather the storm was her commitment to innovation. When the economic downturn hit, Fretwell reached out to leaders of other cities to explore possibilities for collaboration, partnership, and efficiencies in service delivery. In one instance, she partnered with the city of North Las Vegas on an efficiency study that was beneficial to both communities.

By working closely with the city council and involving employees, Fretwell helped Las Vegas balance its budget, even in the midst of a deep economic recession.