Implementing the Budget

Refer the Scenario for Assignments. Prepare a variance report for the selected agency. Refer to Table 8.4 in Chapter 8 (page 133).

Scenario for Assignments

For Assignments, you are the new budgeting and finance administrator for your local government agency. Your first responsibility is to become familiar with the agency, the budget, programs, and capital projects. As the administrator, you will be responsible for analyzing, examining, proposing, and preparing the agency's budget for the next five years.

Note: Students cannot use New York City as a selected local government

Write a three to four page paper addressing the criteria below. (Note: Change the title of the report to reflect the selected agency's name and the years to 2013-2014.)

1. Find the variances for both the revenue and expenditures sides and then discuss two to three problematic areas for the agency. Provide the results of the variances in a table (Excel or Word).

2. Recommend two policy actions for each problematic area discussed in criterion 1. Justify the recommendations.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Recommend appropriate policy actions based on the evaluation.
• Evaluate a budgeting system at any governmental level.
• Analyze the scope and sequence of budgeting in terms of sources of revenues, purpose of government expenditures, budget cycles, budget preparation, and debt administration.
• Analyze the requirements for implementing a budget.
• Develop various budget charts that represent segments of the budgeting process.
• Write clearly and concisely about public budgeting and finance using proper writing mechanics.