Budget Formulation Research Articles

Optimization Analysis of Comprehensive Budget Management from the Perspective of Digital Restructuring: Taking a Water Company as an Example

This article takes water enterprises as the research object, exploring the organic combination of comprehensive budget management under the trend of digitalization and digital technology in the new era, as well as the process of management system reform. Introduce the current status of its budget management work, comprehensively analyze the architecture and operation mode of the current comprehensive budget management system of water enterprises, and evaluate and analyze the overall situation and shortcomings of its budget management system based on financial data such as budget formulation and execution. From the perspective of digital restructuring and upgrading of comprehensive budget management work, corresponding countermeasures are proposed to make up for the shortcomings and suggestions for the future development of the enterprise’s comprehensive budget.

The Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee (SPRIRC): Translating Recommendations Into Actions.

A number of reports over the past 2 decades have provided recommendations for reducing the rate of suicide in the U.S. Armed Forces. Notwithstanding their veracity, few of these recommendations have been fully implemented. At the direction of the Secretary of Defense and the U.S. Congress, a Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee was formed in 2022, with the mission of reviewing all policies and procedures regarding suicide within the DoD. The Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee considered over 400 specific recommendations garnered from component offices, military installation visits, and service member focus groups, ultimately making 127 recommendations. The Secretary of Defense then directed the formation of an implementation working group, which assessed these 127 recommendations for feasibility, impact, and required resourcing. After being assessed by the implementation working group, DoD leadership approved 111 total actions to move forward for resource consideration in the formal budget process. These actions aligned to 5 lines of effort focused on reducing suicide behavior throughout the military. Resourcing decisions then determined that 83 of these recommendations would be funded beginning in fiscal year 2025. From an implementation science perspective, broader agency concerns throughout the DoD often are primary barriers to implementing system-wide changes. By making deliberate decisions about prioritizing the most impactful actions, resourcing processes can be informed directly by relevant data. Implementation of recommendations to reduce suicide deaths in the military must go through several deliberative steps in order to be prioritized, funded, and ultimately adopted by the military. As researchers and external stakeholders become more familiar with this process, recommendations for future prevention activities can better overcome barriers to implementation.

The influence of unstable coalition governments in Gauteng metropolitan municipalities

Background: Coalition governments involve multiple political parties uniting to govern because of the absence of a majority party in the council following electoral outcomes. In South Africa, coalitions have become much more common since the 2016 and 2021 local government elections.Aim: This study investigates the implications of unstable coalition governments on municipal administration within the Gauteng metropolitan municipalities.Setting: The study focused on the City of Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, and the City of Johannesburg metropolitan municipalities in the Gauteng Province of South Africa.Methods: Employing a qualitative approach with a case study design, this research draws upon secondary sources and employs thematic analysis for a comprehensive examination of data.Results: The findings underscore that unstable coalition governments exert multifaceted effects on municipal administration in Gauteng. Firstly, they erode the foundational principles of democratic and accountable governance. Secondly, the instability adversely affects the provision of essential services. Thirdly, the process of budget formulation and approval is compromised. Fourthly, the precarious nature of political coalitions jeopardises creating a safe and healthy municipal environment and contributes to hung councils. Fifthly, municipal human resource practices are negatively influenced, alongside challenges in effectively managing municipal funds.Conclusion: There is a critical need for government and municipalities to institute effective legislation and policies addressing the challenges associated with unstable coalition governments in order to foster stability, promoting democratic values and ensuring efficient municipal administration within the Gauteng metropolitan context.Contribution: The study makes key recommendations for improving municipal administration under coalition councils in South Africa’s metros.

Estimation of the Impact of Government Spending on Industrial Sector Development: A Case Study of Iraq for the Period (1990-2020)

The research mainly attempted to find out the impact of the public expenditure on the development of the Iraqi industrial sectors according to the period (1990 to 2020), as well as several other control variables. The analysis of available data suggested that the indicators of industry sector and fiscal policy tools in Iraq underwent great changes not only because of economic and political instability experienced by the country throughout the study period but also the new-emerged situations that followed, like the cases of wars, economic sanctions, and changes in governance systems that contributed significantly in creating a halt in fiscal policy. Empirically, the study ascertained several outcomes from the analysis. In this case, the empirical test of the hypothesis showed that there was a negative correlation between current expenses and manufacturing output, significant at a level of confidence (10%). On the opposite side, the standard correlation between capital outlay and industrial output is of a positive sign (0,05). Moreover, a current expenditure with an industrial output would make a negative relationship and would become significant at the level of significance of 10%, whereas investment expenditure and industrial output making a positive relationship with a level of significance of 5%. As part of study, it recommended the re-organization of public expenditure structure, enhancing discipline of budget formulation. This, in turn, will support the development of budgetary programs for the economy, particularly, the industrial sector.

Discussion on the Optimization Strategies for Comprehensive Budget Management of Media Enterprises Based on Strategic Orientation

In today's rapidly developing economic and social environment, media enterprises face increasingly fierce market competition and constantly changing market environments. To stand firm and develop steadily under such a backdrop, media enterprises should correctly recognize the importance of comprehensive budget management. As an effective management tool, comprehensive budget management can help enterprises optimize resource allocation, enhance operational efficiency, and thus strengthen their competitiveness and adaptability. Comprehensive budget management based on strategic orientation is key to the sustainable development of media enterprises. Strategic orientation emphasizes that an enterprise's budget management should be closely integrated with its strategy, ensuring that the budget formulation and execution align with the long-term development goals of the enterprise. By constructing a sound comprehensive budget management system, media enterprises can ensure the scientific, rational, and operational nature of their budgets, thus providing a strong guarantee for the development of the enterprise. Moreover, strengthening internal control is an indispensable part of comprehensive budget management for media enterprises. Establishing a sound internal control mechanism allows media enterprises to standardize the budget execution process, prevent budget overruns and waste, ensure the achievement of budget goals, enhance the enterprise's risk management capability, and help the enterprise respond to various risks and challenges in a timely manner.

Breaking the silence: the complex nexus of gender and climate change in Nepal

Nepal recognizes climate change as a significant threat to its economy, communities, and environment. Climate variability is one of the major causes of food insecurity, poverty, and inequality in the country. Marginalized and vulnerable communities, particularly women, suffer the most severe consequences of climate change. In this paper, we qualitatively analyze primary and secondary data to understand how gender considerations are integrated into agriculture and climate change policies. It aims to identify gaps in integrating gender considerations into policies and practices. Climate change’s challenges on agriculture and food security have been identified in most agricultural policies; however, those policies remain quiet on the gender-specific impacts of climate change. Representation mandates are not sufficiently linked with officials’ overall performance, resulting in limited representation of women in budget formulation, project and program design, planning, and resource and opportunity allocation. As a way forward, our analysis suggests addressing the gaps at the policy and institutional levels. For instance, to effectively address climate change, policies should be developed with a gender-inclusive approach, along with budgetary allocations that consider the gender-specific impact of climate change. Promoting gender equality in climate-resilient agriculture in Nepal requires measures such as empowering women’s networks, establishing linkages with extension services that focus on women-led cooperatives, and investing in affordable and climate-smart tools and machinery that are women-friendly. The study offers important insights for policymakers to create gender-inclusive policies. It highlights the opportunity to coordinate inter-agency responses among stakeholders and sustain ongoing national policy dialogues to identify actions required to meet the nationally determined contributions’ commitments.

Economic Security and Gender Budgeting in Nigeria

Gender budgeting has emerged as a crucial tool in addressing gender disparities and invariably promoting economic security. This article examines the intersection of economic security and gender budgeting in the Nigerian context. The study highlights the significant impact of gender- responsive budgeting on narrowing gender gaps in economic security. The article explores the concept of economic security within the framework of gender equality and sustainable development, emphasizing the importance of addressing gender-based discrimination as barriers to women's economic empowerment. Furthermore, the research examines the potential benefits of gender budgeting in achieving broader national development goals, including poverty reduction, increased productivity, and social cohesion. It underscores the need for a holistic approach that integrates gender considerations into all aspects of budget formulation, implementation, and monitoring. Ultimately, the work underscores that gender budgeting is not merely a fiscal exercise but a transformative strategy for building a more equitable and prosperous society in Nigeria.

Preparation of Administrative Cost Budgeting with Maqasid Syariah Approach: Case Study at Kspps Tunas Artha Mandiri Nganjuk

The budget for administrative costs is indicative of the well-being within the company. According to Islamic economic principles, the primary objective is to attain comprehensive prosperity, encompassing material, spiritual, and moral well-being. The concept of prosperity and happiness (falah) aligns with the tenets of Islamic sharia, which consist of five principles of maqasid sharia: religion (ad-ddin), soul (an-nafs), reason (al-aql), heredity (an-nasl), and assets (al-mal) (Suardi, 2021). In the realm of Islamic economics, the maqasid sharia approach can guide budget formulation to align with Islamic values, emphasizing public welfare, justice, and sustainability.

Cost Control during the Bidding Stage of Construction Projects

Effective cost control during the bidding stage of construction projects is crucial for the success of project management. The process starts from a thorough pre bidding stage, including feasibility studies, risk assessments, and realistic budget formulation. In the bidding process, setting clear standards, evaluating suppliers, and evaluating based on various factors such as cost, technical qualifications, and past performance are key steps. Through comprehensive measures, it can be ensured to minimize risks and improve project efficiency to the greatest extent possible.

Outwelling of reduced porewater drives the biogeochemistry of dissolved organic matter and trace metals in a major mangrove‐fringed estuary in Amazonia

AbstractMangrove‐fringed estuaries are intertidal ecosystems discharging significant amounts of dissolved organic matter (DOM) into coastal oceans. DOM in these ecosystems is derived from autochthonous production, fluvial input, and mangrove porewater outwelling; however, differentiating between these sources remains challenging. Our incomplete understanding of the biogeochemical factors controlling DOM dynamics and its relationship with nutrient and trace metal cycling still hinders the formulation of elemental budgets in coastal environments. Here, we relate the DOM composition in a mangrove‐fringed estuary in North Brazil (Amazonia) to the redox conditions at the formation sites. We combined molecular DOM analyses via ultrahigh‐resolution mass spectrometry (FT‐ICR‐MS) with parallel factor analysis of excitation–emission fluorescence matrices (EEM‐PARAFAC), nutrient and redox‐sensitive trace metal analyses. During low tide, the influx of oxygen‐depleted porewater carried terrigenous DOM, inorganic nutrients, and trace metals into the mangrove‐fringed creeks. Precipitation of metal(hydr)oxides and microbial turnover controlled nutrient and trace metal dynamics in the estuary. The highest inorganic nitrogen concentrations within the upper mangrove‐fringed estuary indicated outwelling from mangrove sediments as an essential source. Phosphate concentrations were highest within the lower mangrove‐fringed estuary, where available phosphate likely exceeded precipitation with iron(hydr)oxides. We tracked the DOM transport to the coastal ocean using a novel molecular index derived from sulfidic porewater (ISuP). Outwelling of recalcitrant DOM from mangrove habitats is relevant in the context of blue carbon storage. Therefore, applying our molecular proxy (ISuP), together with trace‐metal and optical DOM analyses, is a powerful approach for differentiating contributions of diverse DOM sources in highly complex coastal ecosystems.

Analysis of the budget formulation process through the multiple streams approach

This study aims to explain the causes of congestion and the network of budget policy actors (Harden & Kirkland, 2021; Kirkland & Phillips, 2018) in Riau Province in 2014 and 2016 using the multiple streams approach from Kingdon (1984). This article illustrates the results of a qualitative descriptive analysis review by analyzing primary and secondary data from the results of documentation and interviews with informants who are directly involved in the budget preparation process in Riau Province, which includes explanations regarding the factors that cause gridlock in budgetary policies and the network of actors that influence the budget policy process. The results of this study indicate that various factors causing budgetary policy gridlock in Riau Province can be seen from three multiple streams approach, namely problem stream, policy stream and politic stream, which still have dynamics in the process. Then, the network of actors who can influence the budget policy process in Riau Province can be seen from the existence of a policy gridlock in the process of preparing the budget in Riau Province which occurs due to cross-policy interests, each of which seeks to accommodate the interests of two government actors, namely the governor (executive) and the council local people’s representatives (legislature). Each actor has a role and a way to propose and combine their interests. However, even though the actor’s preference can be accommodated in budget policy, in essence, this does not represent as a whole that the budget policy implementation process in Riau Province has been carried out optimally. Our findings provide benefits for each stakeholder in improving the budget policy formulation process through the multiple-stream method. This study encourages the growing awareness of stakeholders that budgeting policies require systematic improvement in implementation aspects in an area

Towards Equity and Inclusion: Analyzing Gender Equality and Social Inclusion in Nepal’s Budgeting Process – A Comprehensive Review

Nepal, a diverse nation with a history of social disparities, is at the forefront of redefining its budgeting process to reflect a commitment to gender equality and social inclusion. In recent years, the country has recognized the imperative of addressing the entrenched inequalities that have marginalized women, ethnic minorities, and other marginalized groups. The core of this shift lies in the incorporation of gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) and a social inclusion lens into the national budgetary framework. This process ensures that budget allocations are not only gender-sensitive but also promote social cohesion and uplift historically disadvantaged communities. Women's empowerment, access to education and healthcare, and economic inclusion of marginalized groups are now central themes in budget formulation. This qualitative research involves an in-depth analysis of gender equality and social inclusion within Nepal's budgeting process. Through extensive literature review and content analysis of relevant documents, the study aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities in promoting equity in budget allocation and execution. This review article delves into the strategies, challenges, and successes of Nepal's journey towards gender equality and social inclusion in budgeting. It highlights the government's commitment to mainstreaming gender and social inclusion across ministries, the pivotal role of civil society in advocacy, and the need for data-driven decision-making to ensure targeted resource allocation.

Forecasting Sales: A Comprehensive Analysis of Forecasting Techniques for Sales Budget Determination

This research endeavors to employ sales forecasting techniques on historical sales data for the purpose of determining the sales budget. The application of forecasting is based on sales data from the preceding period, utilizing a descriptive qualitative method. The analysis employs the half-average trend method, generating an estimated sales figure for the upcoming period. This estimate serves as a reference for both inventory planning and the formulation of the sales budget. Within this research, the half-average trend method involves the selection of two X parameter values, namely 0.5 and 0. To determine the superior value, a calculation of SKF (Standard Error of Forecasting) is executed. The analysis results reveal that utilizing the value 0 yields an SKF value of 4,166.6, while the value 0.5 produces a lower SKF value of 3,941.6. This implies that the estimated sales number with the X value of 0.5 is smaller than that with the X value of 0. Conclusively, the application of the half-average trend method in this research provides sales estimates for the next three months, contributing valuable insights for effective planning and budgeting processes.

PELATIHAN PENYUSUNAN ANGGARAN PENJUALAN DAN PRODUKSI PADA DASA WISMA DAHLIA I TRUNUH DI KLATEN SELATAN

Budgeting is a crucial activity that must be undertaken by business practitioners. Without a well-established budgeting process and allocation, management would find it challenging to develop and achieve the company's goals in enhancing profitability. Therefore, this research aims to provide training related to the formulation of sales and production budgets. The method employed in this engagement is through providing training and lectures. Additionally, before receiving the training, participants in the engagement will undergo pre-tests and post-tests. Following this engagement activity, the managed businesses are expected to progress further and potentially increase the income of the women members of Dawis Dahlia I, as errors in sales and production estimates are minimized.

Budget monitoring, accountability practices and their influence on the efficiency of county health systems in Kenya.

Public Finance Management (PFM) practices influence the attainment of health system goals. PFM processes are implemented within the budget cycle which entails the formulation, execution, and monitoring of government budgets. Budget monitoring and accountability actors, structures, and processes are important in improving the efficiency of health systems. This study examined how the budget monitoring and accountability processes influence the efficiency of county health systems in KenyaWe conducted a qualitative case study of four counties in Kenya selected based on their relative technical efficiency. We collected data using in-depth interviews with health and finance stakeholders (n = 70), and document reviews. We analyzed data using a thematic approach, informed by our study conceptual framework. We found that weak budget monitoring and accountability mechanisms compromised county health system efficiency by a) weakening the effective implementation of the budget formulation and execution steps of the budget cycle, b) enabling the misappropriation of public resources, and c) limiting evidence-informed decision-making by weakening feedback that would be provided by effective monitoring and accountability. Devolution meant that accountability actors were closer to implementation actors which promoted timely problem solving and the relevance of solutions. Internal audit practices were supportive and provided useful feedback to health system managers that facilitated improvements in budget formulation and execution. The efficiency of county health systems can be improved by strengthening the budget monitoring and accountability processes. This can be achieved by increasing the population's budget literacy, supporting participatory budgeting, synchronizing performance and financial accountability, implementing the existent budget monitoring and accountability mechanisms, rewarding efficiency, and sanctioning inefficiency.

School Budget Development and Financial Accountability of Public Secondary Schools in Khwisero Sub County, Kenya

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) raised concern about the misuse of funds in public secondary schools, warned principals in charge, and even indicated the interdiction of principals with financial anomalies. In Turkana South, the audit questioned the use of Kenya Shillings 29 million to buy three school buses, failing the school budget implementation plans. There were no logbooks for the said vehicles. According to audit reports on public secondary schools, financial statement anomalies have been reported in a number of schools in Khwisero Sub County. The school audit report indicated that some school managers had hidden fees that were not in line with the ones recommended by the government. The study objective was to assess the effect of school budget development on the financial accountability of public secondary schools in Khwisero Sub County. The study was guided by budget theory. The causal research design examined the cause-and-effect relationship between school budget development and financial accountability. A census survey was adopted in 25 public schools. Two respondents’ school bursar/accounts clerk and school principal were used for the study. This constituted 50 respondents. Data collection was aided by questionnaires and presented using tables. Descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted. The study found that school budget development had a beta value of 0.309 and a coefficient correlation of 0.890. The correlation R between the mean of school budget development and the mean of financial accountability had a beta term of β = 0.827, P = 0.000. This implies that statistically, budget development was significantly positive. The study recommends that public secondary schools should align budget-making with government policies and school demands. Furthermore, stakeholders such as parents and the school board should be involved in budget formulation.

Challenges of Budgeting and Public Financial Management in Iran's Health System: A Qualitative Study.

Efficient and effective management of budgets and financial resources is critical for health systems to achieve their goals; in this regard, countries may face budgetary and financial challenges owing to the weak prediction of resources and consumptions, and lack of prioritization for their budget. This study aims to identify the most critical policies and events that have affected public financial management and health budgeting and existing challenges in Iran. We conducted the present study in 2022 using a 2-stage qualitative method. First, by reviewing upstream documents and laws, we identified evidence related to health budgeting. Then, we conducted 13 semi-structured interviews with informed people in the health budgeting field that led us toward the main challenges through thematic content analysis. After reviewing 48 upstream documents related to health budgeting, we identified 85 policies. After reviewing the articles, we achieved 11 themes and 71 subthemes. The most critical challenges of the budgeting cycle were as follows: (I) budget formulation, including inappropriate budget structure, conflicts of interest and infringement, lack of financial sustainability, and transparency; (II) budget execution, including a nonexecutable approved budget, complicated allocation process, and ineffective allocations; and (III) monitoring, reporting, and evaluation (MR&E), including fragmentation of MR&E processes, ineffective monitoring and evaluation, weak evaluation of platforms, and inadequate transparency. Most challenges in the health budgeting system are related to the budget formulation and approval stage that have their roots in implementation, monitoring, and reporting. In addition, Iran's macroeconomic and financial issues have also damaged the budgeting of the health sector. Budget problems affect the goals and outcomes of this sector, especially the health system.

지방자치단체의 비효율적 재정 운용과 도덕적 해이

Previous studies analyzing the causes and consequences of inefficient fiscal management have mainly focused on the politics of the budget process and fiscal prudence, often overlooking the relationship between inefficiency in budget execution and moral hazard, which represents inefficient fiscal management.
 This study aims to examine the relationship between inefficient fiscal management and moral hazard at the local government level, focusing on unused budget and local subsidies. It does so by collecting financial statements from local governments across the country spanning from 2017 to 2021. The increase in unused budget at the local government level can be attributed to the expansion of local governments' authority and fiscal size, which has not been met with corresponding efficient and responsible expenditure.
 Local subsidies have the positive aspect of leveraging private sector capabilities to improve business performance, but they also have a negative impact on local government integrity by leading to unproductive appropriation structures, such as unreasonable budgeting and the expansion of expenses.
 Budget wastage, including excessive unused budget and increased local subsidies, has been cited as a cause of corruption and moral hazard for many years. Therefore, for efficient resource allocation, it is essential to ensure rigor in budget formulation and budget deliberation, improve the financial expenditure structure during the budget execution stage, and maintain objectivity in the budget settlement stage.

Enhancing procurement efficiency through strategic budgeting: A case study of Benue State Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs)

This report explores the significance of procurement planning and budgeting for the Government of Benue State. It highlights the various types of budgets applicable to the procurement of goods, works, and services and emphasizes their role in efficient resource allocation, financial control, transparency, accountability, and risk mitigation. The report outlines the budgeting process for procurements, covering pre-budgeting, budget formulation, budget implementation, and post-budgeting phases. Drawing from successful case studies and best practices from other states and countries, it provides key takeaways and lessons for effective procurement budgeting in Benue State. The report calls for the adoption of integrated e-Procurement systems, strategic budgeting frameworks, and stakeholder engagement to optimize procurement outcomes. Recommendations include centralizing procurement functions, leveraging technology, and fostering a culture of transparency, data-driven decision-making, and continuous improvement. With these measures, Benue State's procurement processes can become more resilient, responsive, and better aligned with strategic goals, ultimately leading to enhanced service delivery for its citizens.

Implementation of Local Government Financial Reporting and Community Welfare

Objective: Research objectives financial reports as a means of accountability for its financial performance to the public.
 
 Theoretical framework: The primary objective of government-led development initiatives is to promote the well-being of the community. This objective is reflected in the formulation of programs and budgets that incorporate measures of community welfare. Furthermore, the program and budget are reported to the public through the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) to determine budget accountability and performance. The Kediri City Government must be able to present financial reports that contain financial information that is not only of good quality but is able to spur economic growth that has an impact on people's welfare.
 
 Method: The present study, conducted in the urban setting of Kediri, employs a qualitative descriptive approach. Data collection methods encompass observation, interviews, and documentation. The analysis of data follows the Miles and Huberman model, involving the stages of data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions.
 
 Results: The findings of the research indicate that the incorporation of financial statement reporting within the Kediri city government has adhered to the appropriateness of government accounting standards, sufficiency of disclosure, adherence to laws and regulations, and the efficacy of the internal control system.
 
 Conclusion: The findings of the BPK audit indicate that the financial reporting of entities within the Kediri City Government has received a Unqualified Opinion(WTP). This Kediri City Government Financial Report also shows how the programs implemented by the Kediri City Government seek to improve the people's standard of living.