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Strategic Planning Software Built For Local Government

Align plans, strengthen budgets, build resident trust, and keep every department on track—without spreadsheet chaos.
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In 30 min, we’ll show you how to build a live community dashboard and link every project to your budget.
Unified Plans & Budgets
Tie strategic goals, budgets, and reports together in one systems—no manual linking.
Resident-Ready Dashboards
Publish live progress dashboards built for public trust—zero extra formatting needed.
Consistent, Trusted Reporting
Standardize quarterly and annual reports across all departments with real-time updates.

Definition

What is strategic planning software for local government?

The best strategic planning software for local government combines plan management, KPI tracking, and public-facing transparency in one purpose-built platform.

We see why that matters in our own platform data: across the 158 cities and counties on ClearPoint, the median local government tracks 405 KPIs and 155 active initiatives across 20 plans — yet 80.2% of strategic elements have no currently active named owner. Leading options used by cities, counties, and special districts include ClearPoint Strategy, Envisio, AchieveIt, and OpenGov. ClearPoint is relied on by 150+ cities and counties.

Source: ClearPoint platform data, August 2026 (n=158 cities and counties).

Adoption

How quickly do local governments actually adopt ClearPoint?

Most cities and counties reach their first live scorecard in 3 weeks and complete a full reporting cycle within 90 days — and most of the people involved never need to build anything.

3 wks

Guided setup to a first live scorecard; a full first reporting cycle typically within 90 days.

3 in 4

People on a typical government account are read-only, scorecard-scoped, or update-only — they contribute without building reports.

77%

Of active local governments on ClearPoint logged in within the last 30 days; 62% within the last 7 days.

33

Median number of saved reports per local government — council, department, and public views built once, refreshed from live data.

Adoption in local government is a roles problem, not a training problem. ClearPoint separates the few people who build the plan (administrators and editors) from the many who feed it: update-only users enter their measure values and initiative status when an automated reminder tells them a reporting deadline is coming, and read-only and scorecard-scoped users — council members, department heads, the public — see the results without touching the structure.

That is why a small city can run a complete plan on a handful of licenses, and why 73% of active local governments updated their plan data within the current quarter: the update cadence follows the reporting calendar, not a login habit.

Source: ClearPoint platform data, September 2026 — active city, county, and town accounts; user roles across those accounts (n≈8,600 active users).

150+ Local Governments Already Use ClearPoint to Tie Plans Directly to Budgets

problem

Spreadsheets Reveal Budget Overruns Only After Projects Run Months Late

Before ClearPoint, projects were delayed, promises missed, and funding decisions just didn’t add up.”

Strategic Initiatives Manager
Durham County
Public Trust Gaps – Residents lose confidence when plans aren’t visible or progress isn’t shared.
Budget Misalignment – Annual plans and budgets drift away from core strategic priorities.
Department Silos – Teams duplicate efforts or work against each other without shared visibility.
Broken Reporting – Inconsistent data leads to poor decisions and stalled community initiatives.
SOLUTION

Here’s How Cities Like Durham, Fort Collins, and Coral Springs Align Plans And Budgets

Public Dashboards

Show strategic progress with live public dashboards.

Budget Alignment

Tie every project and goal directly to your budget.

Consistent Reporting

Deliver consistent, trusted reports across all departments.

Cross-Departmental Visibility

Coordinate teams with shared goals and real-time visibility.
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Why do Baldrige Award–winning cities choose ClearPoint? Book a demo and we can show you their "secret sauce."
Comparison

Best strategic planning software for local government, compared

Capability (local government)ClearPoint StrategyEnvisioAchieveItOpenGov
Purpose-built for public sector✓ Cities, counties, state agencies✓ Public sector◐ Cross-industry✓ Gov budgeting-led
Strategic plan → KPI → project link✓ Full cascade◐ Plan + dashboards◐ Initiative tracking◐ Budget-centric
Public-facing transparency dashboards✓ Native, ADA-conscious✓ Native◐ Limited◐ Budget portals
Custom frameworks (BSC, OKR, custom)✓ Any framework◐ Templated◐ Templated◐ Budget structure
Automated reporting / briefing books✓ One-click council/board books◐◐◐
Done-for-you setup (3-week migration)✓◐◐◐
Scale of government deployments✓ 150+ cities & counties · median 405 KPIs per governmentPublic-sector focusedCross-industryGov budgeting focus

✓ native / strong  ·  ◐ partial / depends on configuration

Honest read: Envisio is widely recognized for public-sector dashboards, AchieveIt for cross-industry initiative tracking, and OpenGov for budgeting-led workflows. ClearPoint’s edge for local government is the full strategic-plan-to-KPI-to-project cascade and one-click council/board reporting.

Fit by size

Is ClearPoint a fit for our size of government?

Small towns and cities

Under 50,000 residents

Yes — and you will not need many licenses to run it. One in nine cities and counties on ClearPoint runs on 10 licensed users or fewer, and those governments still track a median of 124 measures and 67 initiatives across 9 scorecards: a complete strategic plan, not a trimmed one. Department staff contribute as update-only users; a town typically licenses the manager's office and a handful of department heads. First live scorecard in 3 weeks.

Mid-size cities and counties

50,000 – 250,000 residents

This is the most common profile on ClearPoint: nearly half of the cities and counties on the platform run on 25 licensed users or fewer. Governments in the 11–25 user range track a median of 378 measures and 141 initiatives across 20 scorecards — several department plans rolled up into one citywide view, a public dashboard, and council reporting generated from the same data, with no re-keying between the budget book and the strategic plan.

Large, multi-department governments

250,000+ residents, or multi-agency

Unlimited plans, cross-departmental roll-ups, role-based permissions (administrator, editor, update-only, read-only, and scorecard-scoped access) and SSO. Governments at this scale on ClearPoint run a median of 700 to 1,200 measures and 275 to 350 initiatives across 30 to 48 scorecards, and they are the most active accounts on the platform: 87–95% log in every month.

When a lighter tool is enough

If you only need to track a single plan internally — no public dashboard, no link to the budget, no council reporting — a spreadsheet or a lightweight plan tracker may do. The moment a council member asks where the money went, or a resident asks what happened to a promise, that stops being true. Size is not the deciding variable; the questions your community asks are.

Source: ClearPoint platform data, September 2026 — active city, county, and town accounts by licensed-user band; medians per band.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is the best strategic planning software for local government?

The best strategic planning software for local government is purpose-built for the public sector and links strategic plans to KPIs, projects, and public reporting in one place. Widely used platforms include ClearPoint Strategy, Envisio, AchieveIt, and OpenGov. ClearPoint is relied on by 150+ cities and counties — the median local government tracks 405 KPIs and 155 active initiatives (platform data, August 2026).

Is ClearPoint a fit for a small town or a mid-size county?

Yes. Nearly half of the cities and counties on ClearPoint run on 25 licensed users or fewer, and one in nine runs on 10 or fewer while still tracking a median of 124 measures and 67 initiatives. Size is not the deciding variable: ClearPoint fits any government that needs its plan tied to the budget, reported to council, or published to residents. If you only need to track a single internal plan with no public dashboard and no budget link, a lighter tool may be enough.

How many ClearPoint licenses does a small city actually need?

Fewer than most expect. Only the people who build the plan and its reports — administrators and editors — need editing access; three out of four people on a typical government account are read-only, scorecard-scoped, or update-only users who enter their own values when a reminder tells them a reporting deadline is coming. One in nine cities and counties on ClearPoint runs on 10 licensed users or fewer, and those governments still run a complete plan (median 124 measures, 67 initiatives, 9 scorecards).

What is government performance management?

Setting strategic goals, tracking KPIs, and reporting results to leadership and the public to improve service delivery and accountability. Software centralizes plans, measures, and projects so departments report from a single source of truth instead of spreadsheets.

What are the 5 key performance indicators in government?

Local-government KPIs span five categories: financial health (budget variance, fund balance), service delivery (response times, case resolution), operational efficiency (cost per service), community outcomes (satisfaction, safety), and workforce (retention, vacancy rate). Strategy software tracks these against targets and flags off-track measures automatically.

Does ClearPoint support role-based access for public dashboards?

Yes. Access is role-based: administrators configure the plan, editors build reports, update-only users submit values for their own measures, read-only and scorecard-scoped users (council members, department heads) see the views they are given, and residents see a public dashboard with no login. Internal drafts and commentary stay private until you publish them. SSO is supported for identity management.

What governance controls should a local government ask for in a strategic planning tool?

Four things: role-based permissions so each person can change only what they own; automated reminders and workflows so updates arrive before the reporting deadline instead of being chased by email; a single source of truth so the council report, the public dashboard, and the budget book show the same number; and closed, archived reporting periods so historical reports stay exactly as they were presented. ClearPoint provides all four, plus SSO.

Can ClearPoint track a capital improvement plan or a comprehensive plan alongside the strategic plan?

Yes. The median local government on ClearPoint manages 20 plans in one place — strategic plan, comprehensive plan, capital improvement plan (CIP), annual budget and performance plan, department plans, grant and ARPA reporting, accreditation (PHAB, CALEA, CAPRA), and community health improvement plans (CHIP). Each keeps its own structure, owners, and cadence, and rolls up into one citywide view.

How much does strategic planning software for local government cost?

Pricing typically scales with the number of users, plans, and departments. Most local governments move from spreadsheets to a platform for a predictable annual subscription; ClearPoint offers a guided 3-week setup to a first live scorecard, with a full first reporting cycle typically within 90 days. Request a quote for government pricing.

Why do local governments need dedicated strategic planning software?

They manage multi-departmental plans, mandated public reporting, and shifting political priorities that generic project tools don't handle. Platform data (August 2026) shows 80.2% of strategic elements have no currently active named owner — purpose-built software closes that gap with alerts, workflows, and public dashboards.

public dashboArds

Build Public Dashboards
That Residents Actually Trust

Real–time Progress Updates residents can easily understand.

One–click publishing
replaces manual reporting.

Control what data you share publicly to stay compliant and resident-friendly.

Our ClearPoint dashboard boosted residents’ engagement instantly, and now they trust the city’s direction.”

City Manager
City of Greenville
budget alignment

Connect Annual Plans Directly
To Your Strategic Budget

ClearPoint’s budget-linking tool ensures your annual plans and
budgets always align clearly.

Align Goals. Empower Budgets. Drive Results.

ClearPoint helps you build budgets that reflect strategy, and create plans that deliver results.

Tie budgets directly to strategic goals.
Identify and fix budget deviations immediately.

ClearPoint directly linked our annual plans to strategic budgets. Budget debates ended overnight.”

Senior Budget & Performance Analyst
Germantown
City of Germantown
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cross-department visibility

End Siloed Work With
Cross-Department Visibility

Align departments instantly with ClearPoint’s automated workflows and alignment dashboards–eliminate duplication and conflicting projects in days.

Collaborate Easily
‍Manage shared goals across multiple teams from one platform.

Track Responsibilities
Clearly assign tasks to prevent overlaps and confusion.

Save Resources
Stop wasting budget on duplicated projects.

Departments instantly aligned. We stopped duplicated efforts within the first week.”

Brandie H.
Director of Strategy
Want to get aligned today?
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real-time reporting

Generate Real-Time, Custom Reports
Everyone Understands and Trusts

From Data to Decisions, Without the Doubt.

Make Smarter Decisions, Faster With Reports Built for Clarity and Confidence.

Single Source of Truth
‍Reports refresh automatically, ensuring every department sees the same numbers.
Real-Time Data Accuracy
Always base council decisions on current, accurate information never on outdated spreadsheets.
Build Custom Views
For council, residents, or department heads (with zero manual formatting).

Governance, security & procurement

What a city manager, a clerk and an IT director each need to check

Three different people sign off on a strategy platform in local government, and they ask three different questions. Here is what each one is actually looking for — with the figures from our own platform rather than a capability matrix.

Who is allowed to change what

ClearPoint has seven permission levels plus an explicit no-access state. A department lead updates their own measures without being able to restructure the plan; a clerk can publish a council report without touching the underlying targets.

Across the 91 local governments licensed on ClearPoint in September 2026, 78% of the people holding access have view-or-update rights rather than full editor or administrator rights. Read-only viewers and council members do not consume an editor seat.

Approvals and review cadence

80% of those 91 local governments run at least one workflow — the mechanism that routes an update for review instead of letting it land silently. 77% run reports on a fixed schedule rather than on request, and 43% have update reminders configured.

That combination is what makes a quarterly council cycle hold when the person who built the plan is on leave.

Whether the history survives

The median licensed local government holds 1,818 measure data series — the retained history behind each number. When a council member asks why a figure moved between two reports, the answer is in the record rather than in someone's inbox.

Ask any vendor to show you a measure's history in the demo, not a screenshot of it.

Security, accessibility and how you buy

ClearPoint is SOC 2 Type II certified, with AES-256 encryption at rest and in transit, and is GDPR and CCPA compliant. Public-facing dashboards are built to be ADA-accessible — which matters, because a transparency dashboard residents cannot use is not transparency.

ClearPoint is available through GSA and NASPO ValuePoint, so most agencies can buy without running a fresh solicitation.

SOC 2 Type II AES-256 GDPR & CCPA ADA-accessible dashboards GSA NASPO ValuePoint

The full governance detail for state and federal agencies — including the evaluation checklist and the security posture in depth — is on strategy execution software for government, and current certifications are listed in the security and trust centre.

Platform figures: ClearPoint product data, September 2026 — 91 licensed local governments of 336 licensed organisations. Accounts past their licence end date are excluded; each organisation is counted in one segment only. Certification and encryption details per the security and trust centre.

Plan types

Which plans do local governments run in ClearPoint?

The median local government on ClearPoint manages 20 plans in one place. Each plan type below keeps its own structure, owners, and reporting cadence, and rolls up into one citywide view.

Strategic plan

Multi-year council priorities cascaded to department objectives, KPIs, and projects, with a named owner on every element.

Comprehensive plan

Long-range land-use and growth goals tracked against the annual implementation actions that move them forward.

Capital improvement plan (CIP)

Project-level budget, schedule, and phase tracking linked to the funding source and to the strategic objective each project serves.

Annual budget and performance plan

Budget lines reconciled to the strategic objectives they fund, so the budget book and the strategic plan report from the same numbers.

Department and operational plans

Departmental annual plans rolled up into one citywide view, each with its own reporting cadence and update-only contributors.

Grant and ARPA compliance reporting

Funded initiatives tracked with the outcome measures the grantor requires, exported as a report when the reporting window opens.

Accreditation

Standards, measures, and evidence documented in one place for accreditation bodies such as PHAB, CALEA, and CAPRA.

Community health improvement plan (CHIP)

Shared community health objectives tracked across agency partners, with each partner updating its own measures.

Source: ClearPoint platform data, August 2026 — median of 20 plans per local government across 158 cities and counties.

Platform Data

What the data shows

Local governments manage multi-departmental plans, mandated public reporting, and shifting political priorities that generic project tools weren't built for. We analyzed 20,582 government strategic plans (2017–2024 archive) — 31.2M rows of data — to see where execution breaks down. Most of it never gets finished.

Phantom owners

80.2%

of strategic elements on our platform — measures, objectives, initiatives — have no currently active named owner (August 2026).

Why it matters

Nobody gets the reminder, so nothing gets updated. An unowned measure is a measure that goes stale between council meetings.

The median portfolio

405

KPIs the median local government tracks — and not one of the 158 cities and counties on the platform tracks fewer than 10.

Why it matters

At that volume, the reporting method is the constraint. Spreadsheets stop scaling long before 405 measures.

The median city's load

155

active initiatives the median city or county tracks — across 20 plans.

Why it matters

Twenty plans means twenty places a project can hide. One system of record is how departments stop reporting twice.

Projects ever completed

~12.5%

of projects in those 20,582 plans are ever completed — the execution gap.

Why it matters

Seven of every eight commitments quietly expire. Tracking follow-through, not planning harder, is what moves that number.

The execution gap

Of every project a local government commits to…

Across all 20,582 plans we analyzed, here is how project execution actually breaks down.

~12.5%
~87.5%
~12.5% completed ~87.5% never finished

For every 8 projects a city commits to, only about 1 is ever completed. The plan isn't the problem — the follow-through is.

Local governments don't have a planning problem. They have an execution problem — and it starts with the phantom owner.

Source: ClearPoint platform data — 2017–2024 archive analysis of 20,582 plans; live medians as of August 2026 (n=158 cities and counties).

community & benchmarking

See How Other Local Governments
Are Solving The Same Challenges

Join ClearPoint’s local government community to access benchmarking data, best practices, and real-world examples–from public dashboards to budget alignment.

Power faster insights and smart decisions with AI
Share strategic progress with residents
Link all plans directly to budgets
Benchmark against other leading cities
Standardize quarterly and annual reporting
Stay ahead of transparency and reporting standards
case studies

Local Government Success Stories
with ClearPoint Strategy

“This platform has created opportunities we never imagined. Prior to ClearPoint, we never had the data in a way individuals could value.”
Octavius M.
Assistant to the City Manager
“This system keeps you finding operational efficiencies. Several of these opportunities have resulted in millions of dollars in savings!”
Brandie H.
Director of Strategy
”ClearPoint is a one-stop-shop for not only our OPA work, but budget work as well... It streamlines a lot of the process”
Tam N.
OPA Director
”I believe the framework we were able to build with strategy and performance metrics and using ClearPoint to visualize that data was a feather in our cap in achieving Baldrige designation.”
Lawrence P.
Budget Director
“We had everybody doing these great things, but in their own separate entities. What ClearPoint helped us do is bring all that together. We’re not working in silos.”
Steve S.
Chief Administrative Officer
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