Information function of civil budget

Abstract

PurposeThe formation of an information society in Russia requires new approaches in the implementation of citizen’s rights to access information. At a modern time, when the resources of internet are available to almost everyone, the modern financial and legal institutions adapt or are obliged to adapt to the modern model of the information society. Not so long ago, just at the beginning of the twenty-first century, new information and legal concept – Civil budget – was introduced. The authors tried to show concrete examples of what it is, what it is, its structure and principles. The authors believe that the realization of the idea of a Civic budget in the Russian Federation will increase the accessibility of information for citizens about the financial performance and financial state and municipalities will allow the State itself, through its Government and the Parliament, to form the budget, based not only on macroeconomic goals and objectives of the country, and objectives of each, even the most small territorial unit in accordance with the needs of living of its citizens.Design/methodology/approachThe problem is not new and, in one way or another, exists in all States, but many countries have undertaken very effective reforms and have made improvements in the situation. For example, in Brazil, in the city of Port Alegre, a budget initiative was launched in 1990. Then, it was “replicated” in 400 prefectures throughout the country. The procedure begins with the assembly of residents of the district, where citizens discuss and outline budget priorities, and ends with the approval of the city budget by delegates directly elected at district assemblies. The success achieved in Porto Alegre was further spread: in 1996-2000, budgeting options were implemented in 100 municipal districts, including São Paulo. In 2000-2004, it is estimated to be implemented in another 250 municipalities.FindingsThe access of the population to budget information is a positive factor not only from the point of view of budgetary law but also in the legal field of information law. Such an opportunity is a direct implementation of principles of the industry such as the principle of publicity and the principle of priority of individual rights. State bodies that form and execute the state budget are, initially, already subjects of the information law, but the above-mentioned activities for monitoring, collecting and providing information within the framework of the Civil budget concept lead them to a new qualitative level of rights and obligations within the framework of information relations, which is unquestionably a positive factor for the activities of these bodies.Originality/valueThe authors believe that the realization of the idea of a Civic budget in the Russian Federation will increase the accessibility of information for citizens about the financial performance and financial state, and municipalities will allow the State itself, through its Government and the Parliament, to form the budget, based not only on macroeconomic goals and objectives of the country, and objectives of each, even the most small territorial unit in accordance with the needs of living of its citizens.