Connecting budgetary theory with practical tools, Charles E. Menifield carefully examines the key areas that every budgeting and financial management student needs to know in order to be a successful budgeteer in a local government, nonprofit, or state-level budget office. From the perspective of a bureaucrat, students examine various concepts and then work through in-class and out-of-class exercises and problems to reinforce those concepts and ideas through practical applications.

Menifield provides an overview of the basic budgeting concepts, types, and techniques to orient students, along with discussion of budget cycles and the actors involved in the process. Chapters unfold to present personal services, operating, and capital budgets, as well as the various ways to fund public budgets. Students will gain an understanding of budgeting techniques and analytical models, but also how these methods are useful in answering important policy questions. Other topics include cash management, risk management, procurement, debt management, incentivizing economic development, and cutback management strategies. Menifield concludes with an examination of different data sources, data quality and appropriateness, and the different ways to communicate budget data effectively using charts, graphs, and slides.

Each chapter provides the student with a list of important terms, phrases, and exercises that require the students to apply what they have learned in each chapter using only basic office applications. The Fifth Edition of the book provides in-class exercises for each chapter, allowing students not only to compare their responses to their peers in small groups, but also to present those responses to the entire class with the goal of improving their presentation skills. This book blends budgetary theory and practice in a volume that is easy to understand by both undergraduate and graduate students alike.

Les mer

Connecting budgetary theory with practical tools, Charles E. Menifield carefully examines the key areas that every budgeting and financial management student needs to know in order to be a successful budgeteer in a local government, nonprofit, or state-level budget office.

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List of Figures

List of Tables

List of Exhibits

List of Boxes

Preface

Acknowledgments

Note to the Student

1.The Context of Public Sector Budgets

Overview

What Is a Budget and What Is Public Budgeting?

Functions of a Budget

Budget Formats

Types of Budgets

Reading a Budget

Budget Message, Budget Highlights, Executive Summary

Budget Summary

Source of Revenue

Source of Expenditures

Department/Agency Budget Information

Supplemental Budgeting Information

Public Versus Private Budgets

Overview of Revenues and Expenditures

Governmental Accounting

Government Funds

Proprietary Funds

Fiduciary Funds

Conclusion

Important Terms and Phrases

Exercises

Appendix 1A: Budget Letter

Appendix 1B: Jefferson City Budget Summary

Appendix 1C: Jefferson City Fire Department

2.Preparing a Budget Proposal

Overview

Budget Cycles

Executive Preparation

Legislative Approval

Budget Execution

Audit/Evaluation Phase

Equity Audits

The Budget Calendar

The Budget Game

Budget Actors

Chief Executive

Budget Director

Legislator/Council Member

Agency Directors

Agency Roles Expanded

Justifying and Defending the Budget

Political Budgets

Technical Budgets

Key Components of the Budget Proposal

Project Title

Description and Rationale

Objective Justifying the Need

Budget and Budget Description

Measures of Success

Conclusion

Important Terms and Phrases

Exercises

Appendix 2A: Budget Proposal

Appendix 2B: Original Budget Proposal Request Form

Appendix 2C: Evaluation of the Role Playing Assignment

Appendix 2D: Jefferson City Budget, FY 2023-2024

Appendix 2E: Washington State Decision Package

3.Personnel Services and Operating Budgets

Overview

Writing a Personnel Services Budget

Calculating FICA and Medicare

Pensions

Calculating the Pension Benefit

Position Classifications and Salary Ranges

Justifying a New Position

Calculating a Personal Services Budget

Preparing an Operating Budget

Conclusion

Important Terms and Phrases

Exercises

Appendix 3A: Jefferson City Tourism Department

Appendix 3B: Jefferson City Tourism Department

Appendix 3C: Pension Payment Worksheet: Long Version

4.Preparing a Capital Budget and a Capital Improvement Plan

Overview

Capital Budgets versus a Capital Improvement Plan

Capital Budgets

Why Separate a Capital Budget from an Operating Budget?

Capital Improvement Plans

The Capital Budgeting Process

Identifying and Prioritizing Projects

Needs Assessments and the Selection of Projects

Financing Capital Improvement Projects

Conclusion

Important Terms and Phrases

Exercises

Appendix 4A: City of Alexandria, Virginia Health Department

Appendix 4B: Jefferson City Fire Department Capital Budget Process

Appendix 4C: Jefferson City Project Justifications

Appendix 4D: Preparing a Capital Budget and a Capital Improvement Plan

Appendix 4E: Capital Improvement Plan

5. Funding State and Local Budgets

Overview

Sources of Revenue

Taxes

Property Taxes

Setting the Property Tax Rate

Tax Assessments and Tax Rates

Coefficient of Dispersion

Price Related Differential

Tax Collection

Income Taxes

Sale and Use Taxes

Alcohol, Tobacco, Marijuana, and Motor Fuel Taxes

User Charges and Impact Fees

Setting a User Fee Rate

Intergovernmental Transfers

Licenses, Permits, and Franchise Fees

Gaming

Other Revenues

Revenue Management

Conclusion

Appendix 5A: Property Tax and Millage Rates

Appendix 5B: Coefficient of Dispersion

Appendix 5C: Price Related Differential

Appendix 5D: Jefferson City Public School System

Appendix 5E: Jefferson City Revenue

Appendix 5F: Jefferson City Swimming Pool Cost Estimate

Appendix 5G: Jefferson City Budget Summary

6. Budgeting Techniques and Analytical Models

Overview

Understanding the Methods and Techniques of Analysis

Forecasting Revenues

Forecasting Models

Selecting the Best Forecasting Model

Types of Forecasts

Status Quo Model

Extrapolation Model

Judgmental or Brainstorming Model

Delphi Model

Time Series Model

Multiple Regression Model

Econometric Models

Cost-Benefit Analysis and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

Alternative 1: Increase Patrol Time

Alternative 2: Add a Substation

Alternative 3: Add a Bycycle/Foot Patrolperson to the Area

Analyzing the Alternatives

Financial Decision Making Tools

Discounting to Present Value/Discount Rates

Rate of Return

Payback Method

Breakeven Analysis

Productivity Analysis

Multiple Regression Analysis

Reading and Understanding Reports

Conclusion

Important Terms and Phrases

Exercises

Appendix 6A: Present Value Calculation

Appendix 6B: Net Present Value

Appendix 6C: Annual Calculations

7. Financial Management

Overview

Financial Condition

Financially Solvent or Not?

Detecting an Operating Deficit

External Cash Management Practices

Managing Cash Internally

Risk Management

Framing Risk Management

Mission Identification

Risk and Uncertainty Assessment

Risk Control

Risk Financing

Program Administration

Procurement and Contracting

Equity and Procurement

Cutback Management

Causes of Cutbacks

Cutback Strategies

Creating a Pro-Businesses Environment in your City

Financial Incentives

Quality of Life Incentives

Debt Management and Investment

Debt Management Policy

Additional Budget Options

Conclusion

Important Terms and Phrases

Appendix 7A: Risk Management Assessment Plan

Appendix 7B: Life-Cycle Cost

Appendix 7C: Risk Assessment and Questionnaire

Appendix 7D: City of Lawrence Debt Management and Fiscal General Policy

Appendix 7E: City of LawrenceDebt Management Policy

8. Effectively Communicating Data

Overview

Data Quality, Sources, and Appropriateness

Displaying Data

Tables

Charts and Figures

Scattergrams

Line Graphs

Pie Charts

Bar / Column Charts

Microsoft PowerPoint Presentations

Conclusion

Important Terms and Phrases

Exercises

Appendix 8A: Counties in the State of Alexander

Appendix 8B: A Guide to Writing a Research Proposal and Research Paper

References

About the Author

Les mer
Connecting budgetary theory with practical tools, Charles E. Menifield carefully examines the key areas that every budgeting and financial management student needs to know in order to be a successful budgeteer in a local government, nonprofit, or state-level budget office.
Les mer

Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9781538184035
Publisert
2025-04-23
Utgave
5. utgave
Utgiver
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Vekt
513 gr
Høyde
235 mm
Bredde
191 mm
Aldersnivå
G, 01
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet
Antall sider
250

Biografisk notat

Charles E. Menifield is a professor and the former dean of the School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey–Newark. His research interests lie primarily in the areas of budgeting and financial management, public health and welfare, and policing. Other areas include, health and education finance, and public administration education. Dr. Menifield served on the Executive Council of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), the Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation, as President of the International Conference on Local Government, and on editorial boards for several top journals. An award-winning teacher and author, he is a former Ronald E. McNair Scholar and in Spring 2016 won the Missouri University Faculty Achievement Award in Diversity. He is a fellow in the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA).