Budget Issues Budgeting for Inflation in Civilian Agencies
Author:
Publisher:
Published: 1999
Total Pages: 13
ISBN-13:
DOWNLOAD EBOOKIn recent years, the Department of Defense (DOD) has experienced increases in purchasing power (called inflation dividends) that occur when inflation is lower than had been projected at the time funds were requested. DOD has used those savings to fund a larger program without requesting or receiving additional resources. In 1998, DOD calculated that lower than expected inflation would reduce fiscal years 1999 through 2003 procurement costs, i.e., nonsalary purchases, by $21.3 billion compared to what had been projected 1 year earlier. Of this amount, $2.8 billion, or approximately 1 percent of DOD's annual budget, was savings estimated for fiscal year 1999. DOD was allowed to keep these savings and, in some cases, authorized to redirect funds to programs and purposes other than those originally planned, authorized, and appropriated. Given DOD's experience, the question of whether civilian agencies should also identify the effect of lower inflation on their funding requirements has been raised. To understand better the challenges to developing this capability in civilian agencies, this staff study describes how inflation is treated currently in budgeting for DOD and civilian discretionary nonpay activities. The General Accounting Office developed case studies in 3 civilian agencies: Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management, Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration. GAO also reviewed prior work pertaining to inflation changes in both civilian agencies and DOD and obtained written responses from DOD to questions on how it budgets for inflation. Not included is a discussion of funding for civilian and military pay because decisions on annual increases are not tied to the rate of inflation. However, these costs can be more significant than the costs associated with nonpayroll-related inflation since federal agencies are required to absorb these increases.
