Preview

Public Budgeting

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
522 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Public Budgeting
Public Budgeting 1
Public Budgeting
Introduction
Public finance comprises any revenues or expenditures passing through state budgets, derived from whatever source and however spent. Public finance has to be accounted for within governmental budgets for it to qualify as public finance (Bailey, 2003). This paper will discuss the concept of public finance and its philosophy. There is a comparison of governmental accounting and nongovernmental accounting, and an explanation of the relationship between budgeting and financial reporting in government.
Philosophy of Public Finance Public finance allows for communities to function effectively and for the needs of the people within each community to be met. This requires an extensive application of financial planning, scrutiny by multiple entities and reporting that displays the realistic methods that were used in meeting public needs. The philosophy of public finance is based on raising funds for public purposes (Gaffney, 2008). Gaffney (2008) said there are three aspects on the basis of which public finance functions. These are as follows: * On the basis of different activities in which public sectors are involved and the way of their organization such as revenues and expenditures. * Anticipation and realization of the results of different governmental activities, * On the basis of assessment of alternative policies.

Public Budgeting 2
Contrast Governmental Accounting with Nongovernmental Accounting Governmental and nongovernmental accounting is different for very good reasons. The driving force for governmental financial reporting is accountability. Accountability to citizens and taxpayers, legislative and oversight bodies, and holders of government debt. Governmental accounting is based on the accounting methods of public sector, and nongovernmental accounting is based on the accounting methods of private sector. Governmental accounting system focuses on the course



References: Bailey, S. J. (2003). Strategic Public Finance. Gordonsville, VA, USA: Palgrave Macmillan, 2003. p.3. Retrieved on August 10, 2010, from http://site.ebrary.com/lib/ ashford/Doc?id=10076851&ppg=18 Gaffney, M. (2008). The philosophy of public finance. Retrieved on August 10, 2010, from http://www.masongaffney.org/publications/G44philosophy_of_public_finance.cv.pdf Government Budgeting and Accounting. (2008). Retrieved on August 10, 2010, from http://www.adb.org/documents/books/diagnostic_study_accounting_auditing/phi/chap06. pdf

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Chapters 2 through 8 describe accounting and financial reporting by state and local governments. A continuous problem is presented to provide an overview of the reporting process, including preparation of fund basis and government-wide statements. The problem assumes the government is using fund accounting for its internal record-keeping and then at year-end makes necessary adjustments to prepare the government-wide statements. The problem that follows is presented in the same order as the textbook (beginning with Chapters 3, and 4). Each chapter requires the preparation of journal entries to record the events and transactions of governmental, proprietary, or fiduciary funds. For the General Fund, use control accounts for the budgetary accounts, revenues, expenditures and encumbrances. For all other funds, use separate accounts for each type of revenue and expenditure/expense. At appropriate stages, preparation of the fund and government-wide statements are required. The following funds are included in this series of problems: Governmental Funds General Special revenue—Street and Highway Fund Capital projects—City Hall Annex Construction Fund Debt service—City Hall Annex Debt Service Fund Debt service—City Hall Debt Service Fund Proprietary Funds Internal service—Stores and Services Fund Enterprise—Water and Sewer Fund Fiduciary Funds Private-purpose—Student Scholarship Fund Pension trust—Fire and Police Retirement Fund…

    • 5852 Words
    • 24 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    1. Certain core services are provided by most general purpose governments – those related to the protection of life and property, public works, parks and recreation facilities, and cultural and social services. Governments must also incur costs for general administrative support of its service departments. Core governmental services, together with general administrative support, comprise the major part of what GASB refers to as governmental activities. The measurement focus and basis of accounting for these activities is on the flow of current financial resources on the modified accrual basis in the governmental funds and on the flow of economic resources on the accrual basis in the Governmental Activities column of the government-wide financial statements.…

    • 600 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    For-profit business is highly measured by increasing profits and shareholder value. Financial metrics are based specifically on revenue and net income targets, whereas these measures would not be of much significance to governmental reporting. Government focus cannot always be measured in dollars and cents and tends to bebased more so on service efforts and accomplishments. In addition, the actual budget holds more significance in government than in regular business. The budget is technically what governs the government, whereas in business, the marketplace and competition is the driving force (Granof&Wardlow, 2011). Furthermore, annual financial reports are more important in for-profit business than the associated…

    • 1145 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    The accounting policies of Tinley Park comport to the generally accepted accounting principle as applicable to governments. The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) is the legal body for enacting governmental accounting and financial reporting principles. (Tinley Park, 2009).Upon your request this paper is intended to discuss the governmental accounting and for-profit financial accounting, and to provide an overview of government reporting and reporting entity for the village of Tinley Park as well as provide an Assessment of the Management discussion & Analysis reporting unit for the village of Tinley Park.…

    • 1144 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The major differences between governments and for-profit financial accounting are they have different purposes, processes of generating revenues, stakeholders, budgetary obligations, and propensity for longevity. These differences require separate accounting and financial reporting standards in order to provide information to meet the needs of stakeholders to assess government accountability and to make political, social, and economic decisions (FASB, 2010).…

    • 1416 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Best Essays

    This briefing will review and discuss the comparison of governmental accounting and profit financial accounting. This briefing will also detail how to understand governmental reporting and reporting entities. Last, this briefing will outline management discussion and analysis reports for the state of Michigan.…

    • 1043 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Better Essays

    Smith, R. W., & Lynch, T. D. (2004). Public budgeting in America. (5th ed.). Upper Saddle…

    • 1639 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The public sector is the part of economic life, not in private ownership, that deals with the production, delivery, and allocation of basic public goods and services at global,1 regional, national,2 or local levels. (Its processes and structures can take the form of direct administration, public corporations, and partial outsourcing. Its activities are funded through government expenditure financed by seigniorage, taxes, and government borrowing, or through grants.) The public sector is vast. From 1996 to 2006, for example, government spending in the United States made up 35% of gross domestic product. (Over the same period, in numerous large European economies,…

    • 4162 Words
    • 17 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Lynch, T. D., & Smith, R. W. (2004). Public Budgeting in America (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.…

    • 1149 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Performance based budgeting (PBB) systems are ever present and virtual to all state governments in the United States. To have a budgeting system that requires strategic planning, goal assessment, performance measurement, reporting and even program performance evaluation or auditing. The United States government has made efforts to infuse budgeting with rationality through the application of performance measurement. Efforts have been made in advancing communication and understanding among stakeholders about what governments do and how government operations are accomplished. While PBB initiatives can possibly add value to budgetary deliberations and support agency management, reform such as this does not…

    • 1651 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Public Budgeting System

    • 1084 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Public budgeting systems are systems for making choices of ends and means. The purpose of budgeting is to allocate scarce resources among competing public demands so as to attain societal goals and objectives (Lee, 49). Depending upon conditions at a given time in history, budgets have tended to emphasize financial control, managerial improvements, or planning. The government should adopt a biennial budget. Proponents of biennial budgeting believe that the federal government would benefit from a biennial budget process because it would allow Congress more time to pursue true oversight and investigations without having to constantly be involved in the budget process (Lee, 59). Any time savings in the biennial budget would depend on a willingness of the Congress to make few changes in the off year, and the ability of the Congress and the President to reach agreement on how to design and enforce the off-year process (Lee, 288). Regardless of what procedure is used, Congress will always have to make the tough decisions and maintain a true commitment to fiscal responsibility to make the appropriations process more efficient.…

    • 1084 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Tyer, C., & Willand, J. (1997, Summer). Public Budgeting in America, a Twentieth Century Retrospective. Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting, and Financial Management, 9(2).…

    • 1090 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Fiscal Dispensability

    • 648 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Budget transparency for public systems refers to the extent and ease with which citizens can access information about and provide feedback on government revenues, allocations, and expenditures (Lee, Johnson, & Joyce, 2013). One of the many benefits to budget transparency and oversight is the ability to identify how resources are allocated and…

    • 648 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Perhaps no other function of government is more important than the budget process and the resulting budget document. According to the Government Finance Officers Association [GFOA], (1998) “A good budget process is far more than the preparation of a legal document that appropriates funds for a series of line items. Good budgeting is a broadly defined process that has political, managerial, planning, communication and financial dimensions”. The budget document needs to be more than an accounting statement that reconciles revenues and expenditures. A good budget document serves to ensure that government is efficiently using the scarce resources it possesses and in turn delivering the goods and services needed by the public. The budget document must also be “strategic in nature, encompassing a multi-year financial and operating plan that allocates resources on the basis of identified goals” (GFAO 1998). In short, a good budget document and budget process translate an organizations policies, plans and political commitments into an actionable plan whose performance can be tracked against stated objectives to measure overall operational efficiency and organizational success.…

    • 1569 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Public finance is a subject about the taxing and spending activities of government. Considering the function of government, two opposite views stand out. One is organic view of government. The main idear is that the government can be though of as the society’s heart. Another is mechanisitic view of government. It insists that government is not an organic part of society while it is a contrivance created by individuals to better achieve their individual goals. Neverthless, nobody can deny that the spending and revenues have a significant influence on our society. Our living standard is associated with government actions. As a result, it is meaningful to compare the government spending and revenues in China and America.…

    • 1231 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays