The need for flexibility may also subject budgets to many constraints. Federal grants provide budgetary constraints when they can only be spend on particular programs. Kingdon states that potential agenda items never make it to the agenda stage because of many budget constraints. If an item does make it to the agenda it is greatly affected by budgetary considerations again. In times of severe constraints, inexpensive programs are looked at first.
Inexpensive programs can be of three different types.
First. some of them attempt to regulate or control the rise in costs. Second, are programs that policy makers are convinced will save money. Third, attention turns to programs that cost little, even if they do not contribute to cost savings. These characteristics suggest that a public budget is not only technical but political in many ways. Rubin states that budgets can be viewed in several ways as political.