Technology RequirementSchedule of Class SessionsPart I The Context of Public BudgetingAssignmentAssignmentReadingsPart II: The Context of Public FinanceReadingsAssignmentPart III: Practical Applications in BudgetingAssignmentReadingsAssignmentReadingsAssignmentReadingsAssignmentReadingsAssignmentReadingsAssignmentCALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO GRADUATE PROGRAM IN PUBLIC POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION SPRING, 2001 PPA 230 -- PUBLIC BUDGETING AND FINANCE Tuesdays: 6:00 - 8:50 p.m. Dr. Nancy Shulock Brighton 204 Sacramento Hall 226 Office hours by appointment 278-7249 [email protected] Course Objectives This course is designed to give you a basic understanding of the role of budgeting in the public sector. It covers budgeting at the federal, state, and local levels, but focuses on state and local budget and finance issues. Budgets are one of the most significant policy documents in the public domain. They reflect priorities, values, and power relationships. Although they have important technical aspects, budgets are fundamentally political statements. They reflect the choices that result from the political process. But the study of budgeting only begins with the production of a budget. Budgets, in their organizational contexts, are tools for organizational development and change. In addition to studying budgets as policy documents, we will study the managerial role and challenges in developing and implementing budgets. We will use actual budgets to illustrate budget development and implementation concepts throughout the course. In addition, students will choose a department budget to use as the basis for a variety of course assignments. Students learning objectives for the course are: • to develop an understanding of the political context of budget development at the federal, state, and local levels • to develop a working knowledge of the California budget process, budget concepts, and budget terminology • to learn some basic skills in budget development, analysis, and implementation • to understand the role of budgets in the life of a state or local agency or department • to gain an understanding of budgets as tools for accountability • to develop some basic skills in the selection and use of performance measures in the context of performance budgeting • to improve applied written and oral communication skills, including the presentation of budgetary information (this course will emphasize memo writing instead of more traditional academic writing) Technology Requirement This course contains numerous web-based class assignments and readings, and will rely on a class listserv for regular communication. Each student must have daily access to a computer with an e-mail account, Internet connection, and Adobe Acrobat.2 Seminar Format This is a participatory seminar--not a lecture class. If you come expecting to be told what was covered in the readings, you will be disappointed and unsuccessful. Effective class discussions require that you do the reading and come prepared to share your ideas with your classmates. We have the tremendous advantage that many of you, like me, work in the public sector. In our class discussions we will relate, whenever possible, the theories and concepts from the readings to our workday experiences. Early in the course, you will be asked to identify a department or unit whose budget you will study and use for a variety of course assignments. These assignments will involve describing the budget process, identifying budget issues, summarizing department revenues, selecting performance measures, and preparing and defending a budget request. Those of you who work in public agencies may construct these assignments around real issues of importance to you in your work. Students who are not working in a public agency will need to identify an agency of interest and do some basic field work (e.g. interviews, web site research) in order to gain an understanding of the unit and its budget issues. I will use a variety of teaching approaches to try to keep the course interesting for everyone. Most often we will have class discussions oriented toward issues raised in the readings. We will also have student presentations, case studies, role playing, in-class exercises, and guest speakers. Assignments and grading There are four components to students' grades: • class attendance and participation, including weekly emails on readings – 25% Enrolling in this class is a commitment to me and to your student colleagues to attend the seminar. We all benefit from everyone's contributions. It is not okay to miss class for any but the most unavoidable of reasons. Excessive absences will jeopardize successful completion of the course. In addition to "seat time," the quality of your participation in class discussions will be reflected in your grade. • six short memos (1-2 pages) – 40% • Mid-term quiz (take-home) – 15% • Final: Budget Change Proposal (BCP) – 20%3 Required Texts Irene Rubin, The Politics of Public Budgeting, Fourth Edition, 2000, Chatham House Publishers Donald F. Kettl, Deficit Politics: Public Budgeting in its Institutional and Historical Context, 1992, Macmillan. David Brunori, editor, The Future of State Taxation, 1998, The Urban Institute. J. Fred Silva and Elisa Barbour, The State-Local Fiscal Relationship in California: A Changing Balance of Power, 1999, Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) Center for Accountability and Performance, Performance Measurement: Concepts and Techniques, 2nd Edition, 1999 “Readings in Public Budgeting” – set of readings for purchase from Bookstore Schedule of Class Sessions Part I The Context of Public Budgeting Week 1: January 30 Introduction and Course Objectives Week 2: February 6 The politics and dynamics of public budgeting processes Readings • Rubin, Chapters 1,3,4 Assignment • Write a memo to me (2 pages maximum) describing your job (if you have one), how (if at all) your work relates to budgets, what other experience you have had with doing budgets, what you hope to get out the class, and what you found interesting (think of something!) in the Rubin chapters Week 3: February 13 Budget Processes: Federal and California Readings • Schick, The Federal Budget, 1995, Chapter 3 “Mapping the Federal Budget Process” (Reader) • “About the Congressional Budget Office” • State Department