Institute of Government Tennessee State University Summer 2003 Course Number: PA 623 Title: Seminar In Fiscal Management: Public Budgeting I Course Credit: Three Credits Instructor: Rodney E. Stanley, Ph.D. Office: Avon Williams Campus, Suite F-13 Email: [email protected] or [email protected] Phone: (615) 963 – 7249: W (615) 886 – 4542: H Office Hours: Call For Appointment Class Meetings: June 7, June 21, June 28, July 5, July 12, July 19. Class Time 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Course Description: This course is structured in survey format in order to inform the public administration student about public budgeting and financial management practices pertinent to public organizations in America. The purpose of this course is to familiarize the student with a theoretical base for understanding public budgeting and financial management in the public sector. Students will be expected to display their knowledge of current trends in public budgeting and financial management through various discussions, presentations, papers, and in examinations. Course Objectives: At the end of this course the student will be able to: 1) Establish a theoretical foundation about the development and perpetual sustainability of public and non-profit organizations that the student may apply in various academic and practical endeavors throughout their professional career. 2) Bring to the attention of the student current and future trends that are emerging in the sub-field of public budgeting in an effort to assist in preparing the student for problem solving in public and non-profit organizations. 3) Create analytical reasoning skills applicable to solving problems in public and non-profit organizations. Teaching Strategies: Lecture, class discussion, critical appraisal, individual presentations, budget simulations, and final exam. Required Texts: Robert D. Lee Jr. and Ronald W. Johnson, Public Budgeting Systems, 6th edition, Aspen, Gaithersburg, MD, 1998.Rubin, Irene 2001. The Politics of Public Budgeting. New York: Chatham Pub. Co. Banovetz, James M. editor. 1996. Managing Local Government Finance: Cases In Decision Making. ICMA Management Association. Course Focus This course is structured in survey format in order to inform the public administration student about public budgeting and financial management practices pertinent to public organizations in America. The purpose of this course is to familiarize the student with a theoretical base for understanding public budgeting and financial management in the public sector. Students will be expected to display their knowledge of current trends in public budgeting and financial management through various discussions, presentations, papers, and in examinations. Course Requirements Budget Simulation/Critique 200 points One Class Presentation 100 points Final Exam 100 points Group Participation/Attendance 100 pointsTotal 500 points Grading Scale: Final Grades will be premised on cumulative points as follows: A = 100 – 90; B = 89 – 80; C = 79 – 70; D = 69 – 60; F = below 60. Overall Grading Scale: A = 500- 450; B = 449 - 390; C = 389 - 300; D = 299 - 220; F = below 220. Budget Simulation: Each student will create an agency budget on a Microsoft Excel computer spreadsheet. The student will submit a hard copy of the budget, along with a floppy disk, containing the exact same budget figures as given to them by the instructor. Additionally, the student will act as the primary budget analyst for the local school district by advocating where the budget dollars should be spent by the school district. In other words, on what basis should the school district spend its resources? The purpose of this project is to bring the classroom material down to a real world application for the student. The length of the critique will be between 7-10 pages. Each budget critique will be different! What you will be graded on is how well you apply theory to practice. The budget simulation project will be due at the end of the semester. See budget critique attached to the end of the syllabus for more detail. Grading Criteria for Case Study Critiques: 1) Analysis: A sufficient number of public budgeting concepts are used to analyze the situation discussed in the paper; 2) References: A variety of pertinent and timely references were sought and obtained in preparing the paper; 3) Organization: The main points are stated clearly and arranged in a logical sequence; 4) Coherence: The development of ideas, arguments and discussion shows consistency and logical connection;5) Clarity: The ideas, arguments and discussion shows consistency and logical connection; 6) Conciseness: The language is direct and to the point, using sufficient space to say exactly what is intended and be readily understood by the reader; 7) Grammar: The written is in standard American English, with proper sentence structure, syntax, punctuation and spelling; 8) Drafting: The writing shows evidence of being drafted and revised before submission of the final copy. 9) Following Directions: Identifying and addressing all components of the project the instructor outlines. 10) Timeliness: Simply turning the project in on the specified date given by the instructor. Class Presentations: Each student will be required to assist in the presentation of the reading material at least once, and maybe twice in the semester (depending on the size of the class). Groups of two to four individuals will be assigned to present the basic arguments of the literature assigned for that week and facilitate discussions regarding the literature. Your presentations will be critiqued on how thorough you present the material, how well you project to the class, the amount of class discussion that results from your presentation (in other words try to be controversial it makes for better discussions), and the amount of time you use in your presentations (please try not to exceed 30 minutes in your presentations). The class usually finds it helpful if you distribute an outline of your material before you begin your presentation, however this is not required. 1) Organization – There is a structured format in which the student displays throughout the presentation. 2) Planning – There is evidence of rehearsing and the presentation flows well and is properly paced according to time. 3) Visual Aids – Adequate use of visual aids to assist in explanations during the presentation. 4) Speaker Enthusiasm – Displayed adequate knowledge of