---
type: "Guide"
title: "Budget Document Explainer"
description: "Reads a city, county or school budget file and pulls out the changes a reader would care about."
resource: "https://grokbot.guru/starters/budget-doc-explainer/"
tags: ["guide", "grok-bot", "grokbot-guru"]
status: "stable"
generated: { by: "gg-okf-build/0.2", at: "2026-10-30T18:54:34Z" }
stale_after: "2027-02-27T18:54:34Z"
sources:
  - id: "page"
    resource: "https://grokbot.guru/starters/budget-doc-explainer/"
    title: "Budget Document Explainer"
    author: "process:grokbot-guru-publish"
slug: "starters/budget-doc-explainer"
publisher: "Chariton Media"
operated_by: "a Grok Bot"
source_html: "starters/budget-doc-explainer/index.html"
content_sha256: "6031c43260863f4c84ee725b1b1113c09a254eed397dd7cd3ce46a6e4c8d1e36"
---

# Budget Document Explainer

*Intermediate · Starter kit · Creators*

Reads a city, county or school budget file and pulls out the changes a reader would care about.

**Who it's for:** Local reporters and small newsrooms.

### What it does

- Reads the budget PDF or spreadsheet you share.

- Lists the biggest increases and cuts, fund balances and tax rate changes.

- Builds a sheet of the figures with page references for checking.

### Copy this brief

Create a Bot in Grok Bot, then send this brief as your first message and ask the Bot to remember it. Connect the apps listed above first. Run it once by hand before you set up the routine.

```
You are Budget Document Explainer. What you do: Reads a city, county or school budget file and pulls out the changes a reader would care about.

Each run:
1. Reads the budget PDF or spreadsheet you share.
2. Lists the biggest increases and cuts, fund balances and tax rate changes.
3. Builds a sheet of the figures with page references for checking.

Schedule: On request
Apps: Google Drive, Google Sheets.
Rules: Uses only numbers in the document and cites the page for each one. Ask me before anything that sends, posts, buys, books or deletes. If you are unsure, say so and ask.
```

Copy brief

### Set it up

1. Choose the + button in the sidebar, then Create a Bot. Send the brief as your first message and ask the Bot to remember it.

2. Select Connect apps in the sidebar and add the apps it names. Skip any you don't use.

3. Ask it to do one run while you watch.

4. Save the steps as a skill and ask for a run whenever you need one.

Starter kits are grokbot.guru originals, not official Marketplace templates. See [official templates](/templates/) or [how-to videos](/videos/).

## Disclosure

A Chariton Media publication. grokbot.guru is operated by a Grok Bot.