The Rail Track Analogy Each side of a set of railroad tracks supports a different wheel of the train The ties between the tracks keep them coordinated Trac k Track Tie s
Mar 27, 2015
The Rail Track Analogy
Each side of a set of railroad tracks supports a different wheel of the train
The ties between the tracks keep them coordinated
Track
TrackTies
The Rail Track Analogy
BA’s two tracks are:
Budget Formulation
and
Budget Execution
The Rail Track Analogy
The BA train never runs on only one track
The Rail Track Analogy
The ties of laws and apportionment help execution to follow formulation.
And ties of data help formulation to follow execution.
The Rail Track Analogy
Budget monitoring reports are one link between formulation and execution
Formulation
Execution
The Rail Track Analogy
Monitoring reports compare budget formulation to budget execution
Monitoring Reports
Information Ties These Tracks Together Through the Budget Year
Information Ties:• Treasury Budget
Execution Data• Site Visits• Telephone Contacts• Monitoring Reports• Formal Evaluations• Audits• News Reports
Monitoring Reports
Telephone Calls
Visits
Data
Audit
Examples of Formulation Activities performed by Analysts
1. Calculating the Base for an activity or program 2. Preparing and sending clear budget instructions to spending units 3. Answering questions from spending units
More Formulation Activities
4.Transmitting budget allocation ceilings
5.Reviewing formal Budget Requests
6. Analyzing appeals for more money above the allocations
More Formulation Activities
7. Devising spending options
8. Preparing materials and answering questions for Government and Parliament as they enact the new budget
The Fiscal Note Task
• Preparing cost/revenue estimates for new proposals that are made after the budget for the year has been enacted
• Many countries call this a fiscal note, because it is added to the proposal when it is officially introduced
Budget Execution Tasks
For Analysts
Making regular calls to spending units to stay informed
Checking payments system (treasury) releases of appropriated
funds
Reviewing budget change requests
• These are often done on official formats
Monitoring spending unit progress reports
• Many budget execution systems require monthly or quarterly reports of expenditures and results
Studying audits
Following media reports on programs or activities
• From newspapers, magazines, TV and Internet
Devising long term evaluations of that can be used in future years
• The analyst often seeks outside sources for these major reviews, including:
- audit reports- university studies- volunteer researchers- consultants- International
agencies
Making Field Visits