I agreeto Idea Adopt 2-Year Budget Cycle
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Adopt 2-Year Budget Cycle

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Many states, localities and corporations currently use a 2-year budget cycle and I propose considering the federal government do the same. Senator Conrad and the Fiscal Commission discussed this as a way to make the budget cycle more efficient and enable better planning and accountability of resources. Congress hardly ever enacts budgets at the start of the fiscal year as is (the present is a case in point) and programmatic, Agency and WH budget staff barely finish one CJ before planning for the next starts, leading little time for analysis, review, cost-benefit work, building the consensus to cut poor performing programs, or planning multi-year cost-saving initiatives. 2-year funding would also give Agencies and programs far more certainty in their own mission-related work. Planning a $3T+ budget every 12 months forces a frenetic schedule every year and gives Agencies, OMB and Congress little time to truly dig into public programs and build stronger fiscal expectations.

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Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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Comments (3)

  1. Community Member

    Incredible resources go toward formulating budgets. Moving to this would have a huge impact toward giving managers and employees that are otherwise dealing with the endless budget cycle more time to focus on the mission.

    2 years ago
    0
  2. Community Member

    It seems to get harder every year for the budget to be passed on time. This leads to all kinds of problems: no one plans to do anything in the 1st/2nd quarter because they know there will probably be no money; no one DOES the things they were supposed to do in the 1st/2nd quarter because there is no money; projects that MUST be done in the 1st/2nd quarter due to weather, seasonal trends or other conditions never get done anymore; staff spend frivolously in the 3rd/4th quarters because they feel obligated to spend the money; Congress does not have time to adequately address all the budget issues on a one-year cycle.

    Another benefit of a 2-year budget cycle would be that long-term, well-planned projects can be funded in one chunk.

    And while we're at it, reward groups that return money at the end of the budget cycle.

    2 years ago
    0
  3. Community Member

    There's also contract consideration.

    By the time the budget is funded, the year is half over causing bigger problems for those involved.

    I think this is one of the best ideas presented.

    2 years ago
    0