SOLUTIONS
PUB3705
ECP EXAM 2021
, QUESTION 1
Prioritising for a budget involves a decision-making process. When making decisions
regarding prioritising in the public service, the outcome priorities of government should guide
these decisions. Write a critical essay setting out the steps you would follow to allocate
money to and in a new department in the public service. In your answer focus on prioritising
in practice for the budget
INTRODUCTION
The essay is going to be structured as follows, giving the insight about the topic to be discussed
by giving definitions of key terms, proceeding by explain what a budget cycle is .Discussion on
the steps you would follow to allocate money to and in a new department in the public service.
The essay is going to discuss the steps of the budget cycle by generalizing the national government
departments in South Africa.
BACKGROUND
In the public sector, the budget is a tool for accountability and transparency. By aggregating
budgets throughout the public sector, public institutions has to monitor its expenditure activities
against targets set through spending reviews and to take appropriate action to ensure that these
targets are met. Government budget is used to prevent business fluctuations of inflation or deflation
to achieve the objective of economic stability Krafchik & Wehner (1999). The government aims
to control the different phases of business fluctuations through its budgetary policy. The principles
of a budget Ensure that budget documents and data are open, transparent and accessible. Provide
for an inclusive, participative and realistic debate on budgetary choices. Present a comprehensive,
accurate and reliable account of the public finances. Actively plan, manage and monitor budget
execution (Schiavo, 2007) . The public budget is an important management tool for programming
and control, which in financial expression, provide sizing objectives, costs, actions can be funded
from revenue expected to be achieved, but also evaluate the results and their economic efficiency.
Budgeting is not only preparing financial document, but the stage of determining the link between
mobilizing funds and goals and objectives requiring by the management team extensive and