Put the budget into numbers ordinary people can understand. During budgeting departments ask for specific increases or more dollars. Since very few people, or probably no one, can relate to billions and trillions of dollars, I purpose that a better way is to ask for a percentage of the taxes brought in the previous year, and it must always add up to 100%. Over 100% and you are going into debt. One department wants more, someone has to take less. You never spend more than you took in last year. Some items might have set amounts, examples might be Social security - 25%, Defense - 20%, Rainy Day fund - 3%, etc. Thanks for the idea Mike S.