Go Beyond Budgeting
I suggest we use continuous rolling budgets versus doing the budgeting (and programming) drill every year. This paradigm is explained in detail at www.beyondbudgeting.org and would save us money on multiple fronts. We wouldn't need the complete bottoms up painful annual budget drill and people wouldn't feel compelled to "use it or lose it" or attempt to sandbag and inflate thier numbers.
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Department of Homeland Security
Budgeting for overtime expenditures
I recommend that the budget process be revised to include an incentive for end of year return of unspent funds to the Treasury. The current process discourages the lapsing of funds as managerial incompetence in planning overtime expenditures. In reality, in our environment, volcanos, inclement weather, unrest, etc play a determining role in overtime expenses incurred.
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Revisit open skies policy
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Reward agencies for spending under their budget
As it stands now, each agency is penalized if it does not spend its budget in two ways: (1) it loses what's left in the budget and (2) will very likely receive a smaller budget the following year. As a result, each agency has a strong incentive to spend every dollar. Offer agencies incentives to save money such as no loss of budget savings, etc. (an economist could come up with better ones than I).
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Executive Office of the President
Budget Formulation Policy Streamlining
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Changing the culture surrounding budgeting
Instead of giving them the same amount of money each year (minus budget... more »
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Rainy Day Savings
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Budget BEFORE Fiscal Year
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Common Sense Federal Budget Process.
My share is: We will never balance the budget much less pay off the debit as long as the government budget process runs on a "USE or LOSE" mentality. If I receive money from congress and I don't spend it all, then I am penalized the next year... more »
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Do away with Use It or Lose It Buget Practices!
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Department of Health and Human Services
Year-end awards for returning surplus $$
Every year, as the end of the fiscal year approaches, there is a mad rush to spend remaining funds so "we don't get less next year." This is not smart. Rather, promise no reductions and, in fact, give awards for monies returned to the Treasury.
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Department of Health and Human Services
Under Budget, On Time
Government employees learn early to spend the full budget in order to justify asking for more the following years. Instead we should submit the yearly planning budget, have it properly reviewed, and if goals are achieved under budget we could receive a fractional bonus of the funds. A record of success under budget would then justify receiving more and more funds to manage.
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Department of Health and Human Services
Change from annual to biannual fiscal period
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Department of Homeland Security