Introduction to Local Government Finance
Introduction to Local Government Finance

Author: Kara A. Millonzi

Publisher: Unc School of Government

Published: 2016

Total Pages: 389

ISBN-13: 9781560118701

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This textbook provides an overview of the budgeting and financial management laws and practices applicable to local governments and public authorities in North Carolina. The new edition is divided into four main sections. 1. Legal Framework This section provides an overview of the public purpose clause, the fundamental constitutional limitation on local government finance; and the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act. 2. Budgeting and Revenues These chapters summarize budgeting processes and identify revenue sources available to fund both operating and capital expenses. This section also includes a detailed discussion of the property tax administration and provides revenue forecasting tools for local officials. 3. Financial Management Chapters within this section discuss cash management and investments; preaudits and disbursements; and accounting, financial reporting and auditing requirements. 4. Select Expenditure Categories The final section highlights some of the major expenditure areas for local governments, including general purchasing and contracting, public enterprises, public schools, and community and economic development. This edition covers legislative changes through July 1, 2016. It replaces the second edition published in fall 2014.

Rethinking the State-Local Relationship: K-12 Education
Rethinking the State-Local Relationship: K-12 Education

Author: Margaret Weston

Publisher: Public Policy Instit. of CA

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 21

ISBN-13:

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Governor Jerry Brown's January 2011 budget proposal suggests shifting responsibility and funding for many state programs from the state to the local level. Under this "realignment" of government authority, local governments--usually counties--would be given responsibility for providing the services in realigned programs, and the state would provide local governments with a source of funding for the new responsibilities. In addition, local governments would be granted the authority to reshape realigned programs to better accommodate local conditions and priorities. Although k-12 education is not included in the governor's realignment proposal, similar themes apply to the current discussions and legislation pertaining to California's school finance system. This report examines California's school finance system through the lens of realignment, offering a framework for thinking about how k-12 realignment might work and the difficulties it might face. Certainly there are arguments on both sides of the equation. Proponents of greater local control argue that local school authorities have a better knowledge than state officials of the unique needs in their districts and that greater local control would reduce the administrative burden on schools and enable them to redirect their resources toward improving student outcomes. Those in favor of maintaining state control argue that central control allows the state to ensure its priorities are met across individual districts and that students in all districts, regardless of their size or location, are provided with similar educational opportunities. This study examines the trade-offs of each approach, concluding that thoughtful revisions in the state's categorical funding system would offer a good first step in moving toward a more productive, efficient, and transparent school finance system. (Contains 2 figures and 4 footnotes.) [Additional funding for this report was provided by the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund.].

The Oxford Handbook of State and Local Government Finance
The Oxford Handbook of State and Local Government Finance

Author: Robert D. Ebel

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2012-03-21

Total Pages: 1057

ISBN-13: 0199938318

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State and local government fiscal systems have increasingly become vulnerable to economic changes. Over the past three decades, state and local deficits during economic recession have been larger and deeper each time. The impact of the Great Recession and its aftermath of feeble growth and lingering high unemployment has been dramatic both in scope and intensity. Before the crisis, long-term structural deficits were persistent for both individual governments and the entire sector as spending plans and patterns outpaced governments' revenue-generating capacity. The revenue systems of these governments eroded while the workloads and scope on the expenditure side of the state and local system budget continued to grow. This handbook evaluates the persistent problems in the fiscal systems of state and local governments and what can be done to solve them. It contains 35 chapters authored by 60 practitioners and academics who are renowned scholars in state and local finance. Each chapter provides a description of the discipline area, examines major developments in policy, practices and research, and opines on future prospects. The chapters are divided into four sections. Section I is a systematic discussion of the institutional, economic, and political framework that provides a background for understanding the structure and financial performance of the state and local sector. The chapters in Section II provide an overview of the various components of state and local revenue systems and how they reacted to the Great Recession. They analyze the diverse forms of taxes and charges in detail, prescribe remedies and alternatives, and examine the implications for future revenue performance. Chapters in Section III turn to spending, borrowing and financial management in the state and local sector. The focus is on the big six service delivery sectors: education, health care, human services, transportation, pensions, and housing. Section IV is a set of chapters that look ahead and speculate about how the state and local government sector's money-raising, spending, and service delivery structures will adjust to the new circumstances.

Financing Public Education in an Era of Change
Financing Public Education in an Era of Change

Author: Kenneth Forbis Jordan

Publisher:

Published: 1992

Total Pages: 136

ISBN-13:

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Diverse economic, social, and legal concerns have brought renewed attention to the problem of financing public schools. The primary economic concern is preparing students to compete successfully in the international marketplace. The change in demographics of the United States also is a major social concern for education. Legal concerns focus on school financing systems that are equitable to students and taxpayers, and on providing adequate school funding. Despite complex state school-financing formulas, questions remain about what to fund, spending levels, revenue sources, and support from different levels of government. The answers to funding questions must be reached within the context of how schools function as well as the demographic, political, economic, social, and legal factors influencing school funding. This book is intended to help both educators and the general public better understand public school finance. Chapter topics include the context for public school finance, demographics and education, school finance policy goals and outcomes, state school finance equalization systems, the courts and school finance, taxation and sources of revenue for schools, and issues in public school finance. References accompany each chapter. (JPT)

American Public School Finance
American Public School Finance

Author: William A. Owings

Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Published: 2006

Total Pages: 424

ISBN-13:

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School principals, superintendents, and other administrative personnel must have a solid understanding of the general finance and appropriation structure of federal, state, and local government as well as the ability to formulate and manage school budgets. With the guidance of this new text, educational leadership candidates preparing for such roles will learn the realities of school finance policy, issues, and applications. By providing critical analysis and by including unique chapters on misconceptions about school finance, demographic issues, spending and student achievement, and future trends, authors William Owings and Leslie Kaplan exceed the coverage of these topics as found in other texts.