PA 450: Fiscal and Budgetary Policy - Spring 2015
Instructor: Douglas Newland, CPA.
Where and When: South Calexico Campus Room A-003; W 07:25 – 10:05 p.m.
Course Description and Purpose
Policies of fiscal administration and budgeting; political implications of the governmental budget process;
revenue, debt and treasury management; the functions of accounting and financial reporting.
Course Learning Objectives
This course explores the complexity of the fundamental principles of public budgeting in four general
ways from examples in all three levels of government (Federal, state and local):
1. A survey of literature that defines the structural foundation of revenue generation including
income, sales and property taxes, user charges, grants-in-aid and other income as well as
strategies and best practices in the allocation, management and financial control of budgeting.
2. An examination of the budgetary process identifying the roles of each of the major
actors/institutions (the agency, the executive, the legislature and special interest groups) in
budget preparation, including budgetary reform..
3. Analyze the politics of the budgetary process which makes budgeting in the public sector unique
4. The course will also deal with the skills and techniques associated with public budgeting, and
capital budgeting and evaluation techniques. The team project required is in capital budgeting or
special project budgeting.
Texts
There is one required text as well as articles that will be made available on Blackboard
Mikesell, John, Fiscal Administration: Analysis and Applications for the Public Sector 9th edition, Boston,
Wadsworth Publishing, 2013
Please note this book can be rented.
Course Requirements
Participation
Student preparation and participation is required. Students are expected to be prepared for every class.
This expectation includes reading the material assigned for that week before the scheduled class. The
instructor reserves the right to change or supplement the reading assignments or schedule as the
situation dictates.
Journal
Participants are required to keep a journal. Each week beginning with the second week, you will be
required to journal. The journal will include your observations of related news accounts or observations
related to the theories being studied and identified for that week on the syllabus. Spelling, grammar and
writing skills will be graded.
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The instructor reserves the right to change or supplement the reading assignments or schedule as the
situation dictates.
TestThere is a final open book test. I expect you to interpret the information from your notes and text, not
copy or repeat the lecture. All answers should be unique and I should become familiar with your
thoughts. It is recommended that you attempt at least one or two of the problems at the end of each
chapter in preparation for the test in addition to homework.
Homework- There are four (4) homework assignments. Each is due the date specified in the syllabus.
The instructor reserves the right to change or supplement the reading assignments or schedule as the
situation dictates.
ProjectPresentations are during the last two class periods. Each group of students selects an approved topic.
Describe the process to get the object of your project to completion. Include as many aspects of fiscal
administration and budgeting that apply. The instructor reserves the right to change or supplement the
reading assignments or schedule as the situation dictates.
Grade Components:
Final Exam
Homework
In class quiz
Journal
Attendance
Project
Participation
20%
20%
5%
15%
5%
30%
5%
100%
Grading:
94-100
A
90-93
A-
87-89
B+
83-86
B
80-82
B-
77-79
C+
73-76
C
70-72
C-
67-69
D+
63-66
D
60-63
D-
0-62
F
Plagiarism and Cheating
You must cite (use APA style) the author and the source of any quotes or any paraphrase of someone
else’s work in your paper. Those who do not cite quoted work may receive a fail on the paper and a
warning or referral for possible suspension, probation or expulsion.
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Accommodations
Students who need accommodations of their disabilities should contact me privately to discuss specific
accommodations for which they have received authorization. If you have a disability please contact me
after you have contacted the Student Disability Services at 760.768.5509.
Course Outline and Reading Schedule
Jan 21: Introduction to Fiscal and Budgetary Policy



Syllabus review
Some comments and discussion on the current state of affairs.
Get to know each other
Jan 28: Logic of the Budget Process and Social Decisions


Read Mikesell Chapters 1 & 2
Journal Topic: “Dillon’s Rule”
Feb 4: Budget Structure and Institutions



Read Mikesell Chapters 3
Homework: Chapter 2 problems 2 & 5 page 85-86
Journal Topic: “Entitlements”
Feb 11: Budgeting Methods and Practices



Read Mikesell Chapter 4 & 5
Journal Topic: “Budget Enforcement Act”
Journal Due
Feb 18: Budget Classifications, Systems and Reforms



Read Mikesell Chapter 6
Homework: Chapter 4 problems 1 & 3 page 173-174
Journal Topic: “Zero Based Budget and SALY (same as last year)”
Feb 25: Capital Budgeting


Read Mikesell Chapter 7
Journal Topic: “Pay-As-You-Go” & “Bidding”
Mar 4: Revenue - Taxation: State and Income Taxes


Read Mikesell Chapter 8 & 9
Homework: Chapter 7 problems 3,4,6 & 8 page 338-340
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

Journal Topic: Tax Equity and Compliance
Journal Due
Mar 11: Tax Structures: Sales Tax


Read Mikesell Chapter 10
Journal Topic: Effective tax rates & Excise Tax
Mar 18: Taxation – Property Taxes



Read Mikesell Chapter 11
Journal Topic: Tax Year & Tax Lien
Journal Due
Mar 25: Revenue – User fees, Charges & Public Monopolies


Read Mikesell Chapter 12
Journal Topic: Fiscal Monopoly
Mar 3– Apr 3: Spring Break
Apr 9- No Class – Meet on Budget Projects
Apr 15: Revenue Forecasting, Estimates and Expenditures



Read Mikesell Chapter 13
Journal Topic: Revenue Forecasts and Expenditures
Homework Chapter 12 problem 1 & 5, Chapter 13 problem 6
Apr 22: Debt Administration and Intergovernmental Fiscal Relations


Read Mikesell Chapter 14 &15
Journal Due
Apr 29: Project Presentations
May 7: Project Presentations/Final
The instructor reserves the right to change or supplement the assignments or schedule as the situation
dictates.
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