PUA 425
Public Budgeting and Finance
E. Lee Bernick
CDC 712
895-1068
Budgeting is at the heart of what governments do or do not do. Studying budgets tell us much about what people want governments to do. Budgeting is both a political and an administrative activity. This course provides students with an introduction to the budgeting process at the national, state, and local level.
Objectives:
At the end of the course students should:
A. Identify the different functions that a budget plays in government.
B. Be able to explain the two major theories associated with government action on the economy.
C. List and explain the major criteria for evaluating taxes.
D. Identify the major sources of government revenues and the extent to which each level of government relies on the specific revenue source.
E. List the four phases of the budget process and the major actors in each phase.
F. Explain the difference between line-item budgeting, performance budgeting, and program budgeting.
G. Identify the major elements associated with budget development.
H. Explain the role of the legislative branch in budgeting for each level of government.
I. Define key concepts in the budget execution process.
J. Explain the role of debt in public budgeting.
K. Identify the major issues in risk management.
L. Explain the difference between accounting and auditing. Describe the different types of audits.
M. Be able to locate material concerning budgets on the web for the Federal government, Nevada, and local governments.
Text:
Smith, Robert W. And Thomas D. Lynch (2003) Public Budgeting in America. 5th ed. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. (Book may be ordered on line at SafariX Textbooks online: www.sararix.com).
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Evaluation:
Questions: Each section of the course outline has questions identified in the text. Students are to answer the questions on their own. They should keep quotes from the text to a minimum. Students are expected to complete a section and submit their answers to the instructor. Answers will be evaluated and feedback given to the students. If the answers are inadequate a grade will be given, but the work must be resubmitted and the new grade will be averaged with the old. Students may not proceed to the next section of the course without obtaining approval from the instructor. The questions account for 25% of the course grade.
Exercises: There will be a series of assignments for the course drawing from information that students will obtain on government web sites. There will be eight different exercises. Students can do all eight exercises and have the best five count toward their grade. Students can choose to do less than eight, but at least five and the best five will be selected. Less than five exercises will result in no points being earned from this section of the course. Exercises must be done in the order presented. In other words, if you skip Exercise 1 and then submit Exercise 2 you may not go back to Exercise 1. The exercises count for 30% of the course grade.
Quizzes: There will two quizzes in the course at specific times in the course. The quizzes are identified in the course outline. The quizzes account for 20% of the Grade.
Final Exam: Students will take a final exam. The final exam is comprehensive. The exam is designed to assess students mastery of the course objectives. The final exam will count 25% of the course grade.
Questions 25%
Exercises 30
Quizzes 20
Final Exam 25
Total 100%
Notice to Students:
Copyright – The following statement is
recommended for inclusion in course syllabi:
The University requires all members
of the University Community to familiarize themselves
and to follow copyright and fair use requirements. You are individually and solely responsible for violations of
copyright and fair use laws. The University will neither protect nor defend you
nor assume any responsibility for employee or student violations of fair use
laws. Violations of copyright laws could subject you to federal and
state civil penalties and criminal liability, as well as disciplinary action
under University policies. To familiarize yourself with copyright and fair use
policies, the University encourages you to visit its copyright website at: http://www.unlv.edu/committees/copyright/.
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Disability Resource
Center (DRC): The UNLV Disability Resource Center (DRC) houses the resources
for students with disabilities. If you have a documented disability that may
require accommodations, you will need to contact the DRC for the coordination
of services. The DRC is located in the Student Services Complex (SSC), Room
137. Their numbers are: VOICE 895-0866 / TDD 895-0652 / FAX 895-0651. For
additional information, please visit: http://www.unlv.edu/studentlife/drc
RebelMail –RebelMail is one of the primary ways students
receive official university communication – information about deadlines, major
campus events, and announcements. All UNLV students receive a RebelMail account after they have been admitted to the
university. For more information, see http://rebelmail.unlv.edu/. NOTE: Students’ email
addresses are also now listed on class rosters.
Office Hours: This a a distance education course so
much of our communication will be conducted through the use of the internet (Webct). However, if
you need to meet with the instructor please contact the office for an
appointment. I am in my office on
Wednesdays from 2:00 to 5:00 PM. Other
office hours include Monday in the afternoon and Friday in the morning. However, the spring semester is full of
travel and office campus meetings so please call before you come to the office.
NOTE THAT THE COURSE WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR YOU
TO READ BEYOND WHAT IS LISTED ON THE OUTLINE.
Specific website readings will be noted, but cannot be given because
they change as a result of the budget process.
Web sites you should become familiar with:
www.gfoa.org
www.naco.org
www.omb.gov
www.whitehouse.gov/omb/
www.budget.state.nv.us
www.nevada.gov
www.house.gov
www.senate.gov
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Outline
I. What is Budgeting? Readings: Smith & Lynch: pages 35-48. Notes
A. Budget do many things.
B. Questions and
more questions
Course notes
C. The Four Budget
Cycles
1. Preparation
2. Approval
3. Execution
4. Audit
D. Annual vs Biennial
II. Budgeting in Context Readings:
Smith & Lynch: Chapters
2,3, Notes,
A. Historical
Context House and Senate Web Sites
1. Early History Nevada Constitution & Statutes
2. Modern Period:
Post 1974
B. Legal, Social and
Economic Environment
1. Constitutional
2..
Statutory
3. Economic Issues
Monetary
Fiscal
Deficits
C. Approaches
1. Executive
Budgeting
2. Legislative
Perspective
Quiz
III.
Revenues
A. General
Perspective on Funding Government Readings:
Smith & Lynch: Chapter 9,
Notes
Nevada Web Site: Controller
OMB Web Site
B. Taxes
1. Criteria for
Evaluating Taxes
2. Types
Income
Sales
Property
Other
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C. Fees and Other
non Tax Sources
D. Intergovernmental
Transfer
IV. The Process
A. Budget Formats Readings:
Smith & Lynch: Chapter 3,
Notes,
1. Line Item
2. Performance
3. Program
4. Other
B. Steps in Cycle Readings:
Smith & Lynch: Chapters 1,5 Notes,
1. Building the
Budget Nevada Web Site
How much do I
ask for? How?
How much do I
recommend? Why?
Quiz
2. Legislative
Review Readings: Smith & Lynch: Chapter 1
How much do I
approve? Nevada Legislature, US House and Senate Web Sites
Congressional
Actors
Authorizing Committees
Appropriation Committees
Budget Committees
Tax Committees
State
Legislatures (with an emphasis on Nevada)
Why the
differences?
3. What do Agencies
do to get their funds? Readings: Smith & Lynch: Chapter 4
4. Budget Execution Readings: Smith & Lynch: Chapters 7,8,10
Financial Administration
Risk Management
Debt at the State and Local Level
5. Accounting vs.
Auditing Readings: Smith & Lynch: Chapter 6
What is the Difference?
What are the Different Types of Audits?