Public Budget Decision Making

Module One

PUBLIC BUDGET DECISION MAKING

Readings:

1.         Smith & Lynch

            a.         Chapters One through Four

2.         Best Practices in Public Budgeting

            a.         Principle I (Establish Broad Goals, Elements One through Three)

Course Assignments:

1.         Answer the following Discussion Questions (refer to expanded course

            assignment descriptions for further information on the format for answering):

            b.         Explain the various perspectives one can have on public budgeting

                        and how the definition of public budgeting can be affective by each

                        perspective.

            c .        Compare and contrast the rationalist approaches to budgeting (for

                        example, PPB, MBO and ZBB) with the incrementalist approaches.

                        Explain how the role of analysis varies, if it does, in each approach.

            d.         What is the agency budget officers perspective? Contrast that

                        with the executive and legislative perspective.

            e.         Explain how budget formats channel thought.  Explain how formats

                        can direct thought to and highlight general policy matters, budget-

                        balancing issues, and improvement to the quality of government

                        management.

2.         Compare and contrast two of the Best Practices from Principle One (refer to

            expanded course assignment descriptions for further information).