John Nixon shares his experiences working for governor Rich Snyder in Michigan as the budget director. He addresses the consequences and effects the recession had in Michigan as well as the problems found in the state budget. Then he points out the reforms and actions taken to improve the situation and the results of his work. He also talks about some of the lessons learned and key points to take into consideration for a good budget and how to avoid public deficit. He gives his view on Guatemala's operating deficit and the different circumstances that affect our situation. Nixon expounds Detroit's case study and its current situation. The participants along with John Nixon discuss several topics regarding public deficit and Guatemala's situation, such as transparency in different roles, politicians influence on budget and the state's role in economic development.