DRAFT SYLLABUS SUBJECT TO CHANGE RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND ADMINISTRATION

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1 RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND ADMINISTRATION PUBLIC BUDGETING SYSTEMS Spring 2017 Unit/Subject/Course 20:834:542 Instructor: Cleopatra Charles, PhD Class Times: Mondays/Tuesdays 6:00-8:40 Office: 111 Washington St., Room 318 Office Hours: Mondays and Tuesdays 4:00 6:00 and by appointment COURSE DESCRIPTION: At first glance, budgeting might appear to be all about numbers, and in fact most of the work involved in preparing a budget is very technical. However, it is important to understand that public budgets are not simply technical, managerial documents; budgets are also intrinsically and appropriately political. Budgeting involves the conflict over who pays for and who benefits from the activities of government. This course provides an overview of the governmental budgetary process while focusing on the tools and techniques for managing budgets and making financial decisions in government. Looking at all three levels of government--local, state, and federal this course examines the role of the budget in the economy, the politics of the budgetary process, budget methods and reforms, sources and uses of revenue, and deficits and debt. More importantly, this course takes a more practical approach and students are taught the basic techniques of budgeting including revenue estimating and forecasting, variance analysis, financial and budget analysis and internal controls. COURSE OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this core course in public budgeting is to provide students with a conceptual and operational understanding of theories, policies, and processes associated with public budgeting and debt management systems. At the end of this course students will be able to analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems, and make decisions related to governmental budgeting. PREREQUISITES: This course is intended as an introduction to budgets. There are no formal prerequisites, and you do not need to be a numbers person in order to do well in this class. However, you should be familiar with basic Excel. SPAA STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: 1. To be able to lead and manage in public governance. (B) 2. To participate in and contribute to the public policy process. 3. To analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems, and make decisions. (A) 4. To articulate and apply a public service perspective. Page 1 of 7

2 5. To communicate and interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenship. METRIC: 80% of reviewed portfolio entries should be rated at meeting or exceeding expectations COURSE MATERIALS: Required Textbook Lee Jr, R. D., Johnson, R. W., & Joyce, P. G. (2013). Public Budgeting Systems. Jones & Bartlett Publishers. 9 th Edition. ISBN-13: All additional readings will be posted on E-Reserve or distributed in class. BLACKBOARD: This course will be managed through the University Blackboard system. Blackboard is an internet-based information display system, and it will be a primary means of communication for this course. Throughout the semester, I will post documents such as lecture slides, and homework solutions to this site. In addition, I will occasionally send s about course logistics to your Rutgers account through the Blackboard system. Therefore, you should check both the course website and your Rutgers account on a regular basis. To login, enter your Rutgers username and password. Please take some time to learn how to use the Blackboard and get familiar with its contents. PROFESSIONALISM: The MPA program is a professional program that emphasizes managerial skills, knowledge, and decision-making. Therefore, professional conduct is expected, especially with respect to deadlines, participation, and attendance. Note the dates and put on your calendars immediately. YOU need to adjust your schedules to meet the requirements of this course. Homework will not be accepted late and should be turned in at the beginning of class on due date unless otherwise specified. It is your responsibility to get information and notes from your colleagues when you miss a class. It is also your responsibility to come to class prepared. A grade of Incomplete is recorded only under extreme circumstances that occur at the end of the semester and with written agreement between instructor and student. It is not an automatic option and almost never used. Non-attendance will not result in a grade of Incomplete. GRADING: There are many ways to learn. And different styles are more effective for some students than others. Therefore, we will utilize several different approaches: straight lectures, classroom discussions, multimedia, take-home assignments and memo writing. Although the lectures I will provide in the classroom are central to your learning, they are only one source of information. will be assigned for each class period, and the material in these readings will be discussed in class. Please complete all readings prior to the class in which they will be discussed. The lectures will also cover material not included in the readings. To a large degree, the readings and lectures are not substitutes they are chosen and designed to complement each other. GRADING: Grading for this course shall be on a standard scale as follows: A = ; B+ = 87-89; B = 80-86; C+ = 77-79; C = 70-76; F = below 70. Page 2 of 7

3 Your course grade will be determined as follows: Homework assignments (in class and take home): 70% of grade Midterm Exam: 30% of grade COURSE RULES AND REQUIREMENTS: 1. To do well in this course you must devote a significant amount of time. Please keep in mind that the material presented in the course builds cumulatively. Do not fall behind, as it is nearly impossible to catch up once that happens. 2. Reading assignments must be completed before each lecture. (Note that you have a reading assignment for the first class!) 3. If you need to miss class, you do not need to notify me. I do not take attendance. However, you are responsible for finding out what you missed including any announcements made in class from one of your classmates. 4. There are no extra credit assignments and no make-up exams. 5. If you have logistical questions, please check the syllabus and website before ing me! You can find the answer to almost every conceivable question in the syllabus or on the website. 6. The School of Public Affairs and Administration has a strict policy regarding incompletes. The grade of "Incomplete Pass" will only be available in extreme circumstances such as serious medical emergencies. Students may withdraw from the course up until the date set by the Registrar. Students who withdraw will receive a grade of W and will have to pay for the course again when they retake it. 7. Academic dishonesty is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Cheating, forgery, plagiarism and collusion in dishonest acts undermine the School s educational mission and your own personal and intellectual growth. You are expected to bear individual responsibility for your work and to uphold the ideal of academic integrity. Any student who attempts to compromise or devalue the academic process will be reported to the administration and subject to disciplinary action. Additionally, academic dishonesty will also result in 0 points for the assignment or exam. APPEAL PROCEDURE: If, after an exam or assignment is graded, you believe that additional credit is deserved you may submit a written appeal for up to one week after the assignment is graded. Your appeal should be a typewritten page or less explaining specifically: which items deserve more credit and why. Please note: your argument must be based on the answer actually turned in. Please do not give a new answer and expect more credit. Also, the argument I meant to say doesn t work. DISABILITY SERVICES: Students who are in need of disability-related academic accommodations must register with the Office of Disability Services (ODS). Students with authorized disability-related accommodations Page 3 of 7

4 should provide me with a current Accommodation Authorization Letter from ODS. Accommodations are not provided retroactively, so please let me know about them as early as possible. Further information is available at the ODS website, Course Outline Date Topic, Assignments and Exercises Class 1 January 17 Course Introduction and Overview ; Case Study; In- Class Assignment Class 2 January 24 The Public Sector in Perspective Assignment 1 Due Class 3 January 31 Government, The Economy and Economic Development Class 4 February 7 Budget Cycles Assignment 2 Due Class 5 February 14 Budgeting for Revenues: Income Taxes, Payroll taxes, and Property Taxes Class 6 February 21 Class 7 February 28 Class 8 March 7 Class 9 March 21 Class 10 March 28 Class 11 April 4 Budgeting for Revenues: Transaction- Based Revenue Sources Break Even Analysis, Variance Analysis and Internal Controls MIDTERM EXAM Budget Preparation: The Expenditure Side Forecasting Revenue and Expenditure Budget Preparation: The Decision Process Financial Management: Accounting, Reporting, and Auditing Assignment 3 Due Assignment 4 Due Assignment 5 Due Class 12 April 11 Budget Approval: The Role of the ; Legislature and the U.S. Congress Assignment 6 Due Class 13 April 18 Budget Execution Class 14 April 25 Capital Finance and Debt Management ; Assignment 7 Due Page 4 of 7

5 CLASS 1 January 17 TOPIC: Course Introduction and Overview PBS Chapter 1 CASE: Steven, Edwin O. (1957). Seven Letters: A Case in Public Management, Public Administration Review. Vol. 17, No. 2, pp (Available online library website) This collection of correspondence highlights the conflict and tension between program managers and budget staff. Do you identify with Harper (the budget person) or Mason (the program person)? Please come to class prepared to discuss the case. CLASS 2 January 24 TOPIC: The Public Sector in Perspective PBS Chapter 2 Carney and Schoenfield. How to Read a Budget. (Available on E-Reserve) ASSIGNMENTS: Assignment 1 due today CLASS 3 January 31 TOPIC: Government, The Economy and Economic Development PBS Chapter 3 CLASS 4 February 7 TOPIC: Budget Cycles PBS Chapter 4 ASSIGNMENTS: Assignment 2 due today CLASS 5 February 14 TOPIC: Budgeting for Revenues: Income Taxes, Payroll taxes, and Property Taxes PBS Chapter 5 Page 5 of 7

6 CLASS 6 February 21 TOPIC: Budgeting for Revenues: Transaction-Based Revenue Sources PBS Chapter 6 ASSIGNMENTS: Assignment 3 due today CLASS 7 February 28 TOPIC: Break Even Analysis, Variance Analysis and Internal Controls Coe, C. K. and Ellis, C. (1991), Internal Controls in State, Local, and Nonprofit Agencies. Public Budgeting & Finance, 11 (3): (Available online library website) Various Handouts CLASS 8 March 7 MIDTERM EXAM The midterm exam will be given in class today and will test you on all the material we have covered up to this point including my lectures, guest lecture, readings and assignments. CLASS 9 March 21 TOPIC: Budget Preparation: The Expenditure Side; Forecasting Revenue and Expenditure PBS Chapter 7 Why States Are Getting Worse At Predicting Tax Revenue. Available online at Various handouts on forecasting ASSIGNMENTS: Assignment 4 due today CLASS 10 March 28 TOPIC: Budget Preparation: The Decision Process PBS Chapter 8 Page 6 of 7

7 CLASS 11 April 4 TOPIC: Financial Management: Accounting, Reporting, and Auditing PBS Chapter 12 Various handouts on government fiscal condition analysis ASSIGNMENTS: Assignment 5 due today CLASS 12 April 11 TOPIC: Budget Approval: The Role of the Legislature and the U.S. Congress PBS Chapters 9&10 ASSIGNMENTS: Assignment 6 due today CLASS 13 April 18 TOPIC: Budget Execution PBS Chapter 11 CLASS 14 April 25 TOPIC: Capital Finance and Debt Management PBS Chapters 13&14 ASSIGNMENTS: Assignment 7 due today Page 7 of 7