The HaltingWinter Podcast

Chris Fabian: The Story Your Budget Is Telling
How Leaders Align Resources, Priorities, and Outcomes to Drive Impact
*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "7f0aa905-d803-4481-9e44-c1a088a011df" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> Episode 313 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies
Local government leaders don't struggle because they lack resources. They struggle because they lack clarity on where those resources are actually going and whether they're aligned with what matters most.
In this episode, Seth sits down with Chris Fabian, Senior Director of Product Strategy at Tyler Technologies and co-creator of Priority-Based Budgeting, to unpack one of the most overlooked leadership challenges in local government: the gap between what we say we value and what we actually fund.
From his early days in civil engineering to helping cities and counties across the country rethink how they allocate millions of dollars, Chris shares how budgeting isn't just a financial exercise; it's a reflection of your organization's priorities, strategy, and impact.
This conversation challenges leaders to move beyond line items and legacy processes and instead ask a better question: What story is your budget telling?
And more importantly…is it the story you want your community to experience?
Sponsored by:
Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC
Connect with Seth Winterhalter
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – Turn the Ship Around
Episode 312 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
_*]:min-w-0 gap-3"> Most local government organizations are built on a model that quietly undermines the people inside them. One person at the top makes the calls. Everyone else executes. Information travels up. Decisions travel down. And your most capable people (the ones with the most context, the most experience, the most judgment) learn to wait for permission.
This week's MLDC book of the week is "Turn the Ship Around" by L. David Marquet, and it's one of the most direct challenges to that model you'll find anywhere. Marquet commanded the USS Santa Fe, a nuclear submarine with the worst performance record in the U.S. Navy fleet, and turned it into the best by fundamentally changing where authority lived in the organization.
In this episode, Seth Winterhalter introduces the book, unpacks why it lands differently for local government leaders than most leadership reads, and gives you a taste of what we're covering in depth inside the Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) this week.


Join the MLDC for the Complete 5-Part Series
The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a network of local government leaders from across North America, including city/county managers, administrators, and department heads, giving you access to: 

     ✔ A weekly podcast series breaking down one book for municipal applications
     ✔ Daily blog reflections and implementation tools
     ✔ Our live, virtual mastermind sessions
     ✔ Monthly webinars with relevant training from local gov leaders
➡ Learn more at www.HaltingWinter.com/MLDC
Resources Mentioned
Book: Turn the Ship Around by L. David Marquet
Connect with Seth Winterhalter
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

Jerry Gabrielatos: Artificial Intelligence and the Stewardship of Time
Reclaiming Capacity to Better Serve Your Community
*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "7f0aa905-d803-4481-9e44-c1a088a011df" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> Episode 311 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies
Artificial Intelligence is no longer a future conversation; it's here. And for local government leaders, the real question isn't whether to use it…it's what you do with the time it gives back.
In this episode, Seth sits down with returning guest Jerry Gabrielatos (former City Manager of Beloit, WI) to unpack a powerful idea: AI should lead to more humanity, not less.
Drawing from his recent article on AI and local government, Jerry challenges leaders to rethink how they spend their time, how they engage their communities, and how they structure their organizations in a rapidly changing landscape.
This isn't a technical conversation; it's a leadership one.
Throughout the conversation, one theme stands out: Municipal leadership isn't about applause. It's about doing good with good people, even when it's heavy.
Read Jerry's Article
Listen to Jerry's First Interview (Episode 111)
Sponsored by:
Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC
Connect with Seth Winterhalter
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com

Benjamin Bitter: Impact Over Title
Why Great City Managers Focus on People, Not Position
*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "7f0aa905-d803-4481-9e44-c1a088a011df" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> Episode 310 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies
What does it really mean to lead in local government?
For Benjamin Bitter, City Manager of Maricopa, Arizona, the answer is simple, but not easy: It's not about the title. It's about the impact.
In this conversation, Benjamin shares a leadership philosophy shaped not by ambition, but by service, where success isn't measured by position or power, but by the ability to improve people's lives every single day.
From navigating rapid city growth to leading through uncertainty, Benjamin offers a grounded and refreshing perspective on what it takes to lead well in today's municipal environment.
 
Sponsored by:
Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC
Connect with Seth Winterhalter
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – Inner Excellence
Episode 309 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
_*]:min-w-0 gap-3"> This week inside the Municipal Leadership Development Circle, we're exploring "Inner Excellence" by Jim Murphy, a book that went from obscurity to #1 New York Times bestseller overnight when Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown was caught reading it during an NFL playoff game.
Why did elite performers recognize this book immediately? Because Murphy discovered something revolutionary: the pursuit of extraordinary performance and the pursuit of an exceptional life are the same path.
In this episode, Seth introduces the core insights from "Inner Excellence" and explains why they matter specifically for local government leaders who perform under extreme pressure with limited control.


Join the MLDC for the Complete 5-Part Series
The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a network of local government leaders from across North America, including city/county managers, administrators, and department heads, giving you access to: 

     ✔ A weekly podcast series breaking down one book for municipal applications
     ✔ Daily blog reflections and implementation tools
     ✔ Our live, weekly, virtual mastermind session
     ✔ Monthly webinars with relevant training from local gov leaders
➡ Learn more at www.HaltingWinter.com/MLDC
Resources Mentioned
Book: Inner Excellence by Jim Murphy
Connect with Seth Winterhalter
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: www.HaltingWinter.com