Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-24
just what do VIC mean when we speak
Of 4 state budget?

! just what do We mean when we speal
OF state budget?
! "A budget to quote DR.. FREDERICK
A. Cleveland. els a plan for financing
| an enterprise or government during 2
definite period, which is; PREPARED anG
submitted by responsible executive
/ TO a representative body, whose ap.
! prevail and authorization arc necessary
before the PLAN may be executed"
The most important feature OF y
: budget" Or. Willoushby says in hi.
Nature and Function OF Budget ais
that IL shall bo all comprehensive II
must bring together in ono consoli-
dated statement all tho facts regarding
the financial condition Of tho treasury
and he revenue and expenditures OF
the ;sovernmcnt,-past and prospective
The balancing of,rcvcnueS and cxpendi.
lures is rightly dscemcd 10 be Of the cs.
scncc OF a budget"
With this conception OF what an Of
ficient State budget system should pro-
vide, tho trainers OF the Virginia budget
crnor TO frame AN Intelligent state
mcnt of the financial requirements OF
the state by requiring
|. That all State aEpnciee report their
financial needs to the Governor In an
i;cmi@cd form evory two years prior
To the mcetin. of the General Assem-
bly,. and that the Auditor OF Public
Accounts furnish him an estimate of
the financial needs of the General AS
sembly (Which must he approved by
the presiding officer of each house,
and an estimate Of the financial needs
of the judiciary. as provided by law
which must Ike included in the budget
without revision by tile Governor
=. That the Auditor of Public Ac-
counts shall furnish the Governor Ger
tain specified information with regard
10 expenditures and revenues and cash
balances. etc.
:. That the Governor may request
special Information with regard 10 the
affairs and activities Of the several
State agencies and institutions
4. That the Governor shall hold pub
lie hearing.
.. That The Governor shall make
careful survey OF all State agencies
and institutions every two years
s. That tho Governor may employ
trained assistants 10 help him gather
budget data.
With these facilities for acquiring
definite information, the new law then
requires that the Governor shall pre-
pare work program. and indicate
exactly how il is proposed to spend
the money asked for. He also must
show tho General Assembly Just how
and and from what sources he expects
TO be able 20 secure the revenue with
which TO carry ont his work program.
To further assist the General ASSEM-
bly,, the Virginia law requires the Gov
crnor 10 put all OF his budget requests
for appropriations in the form Of
bill, which shall be merely tentative
but which shall be known as the bud
set bill"
REDRESS ny GENERAL ASSEMBLY
AS CHECK on GOVERNOR
The budget law then makes II pos
sible for any department. or individual
TO appeal from the Governors allow
anccs for any item. and secure hear
ing and redress before a Joint lcSis-
lative committee. It also provides that
the legislative committee can check
the governors estimates by sending
for department heads. II desired. and
questioning them.
Finally. the Virginia law specifically |!
reserves ali final powers OF review and !
appropriation to tho General Assembly, !
in that ii can increase or decrease any |
item IN the bulge; bill as desired.
In order TO facilitate legislation and |
force an carly and intelligent consid- |
Grafton OF the Illustrations work !
program, OF the financial needs OF the |
State. OF the condition OF the State !
treasury. and of the available sources |
OF revenue, the new law checks the !
food OF nonassociatcd. ill-considered |
and purely local political appropria-
t!on measures until after tho General |
-issc"ioiS mas Hdu an opportunity |
properly to consider and provide for |
the constructive and vital business OF
tn" state. There is no restriction !
however. on the rights OF the General !
Assembly 20 provide for emergency or |,
pressing demands at any time.
When compared with budget proce-
dnrc In other States, the Virginia bud.
get law provides a simple, direct and |,
hnsinessiike method OF handling, in a
conservative and constructive manner
tho public affairs of the Common
wealth.
There arc twenty-five States now that
have adopted modern budget laws In |
some form in recent years. In four
others commissions or committees o,
inquiry have strongly recommended
inc adoption OF a budget system. and
In Two others special commissions or
committees have been appointed to re-
port on tho matter. In 1917 the Cover
nors OF six other States urged tho en-.
Hcf'n"nt OF budget legislation.
In Maryland. Utah and New Mexico
thcse laws have snne so far as 70 pro-
hiblt the Legislature from amendinr
mo Midget estimates to secure greater
allowances. while the laws OF Vermont
ana New Jersey also place restrictions
on Legislative appropriations
close study OF the budget laws OF
al! OF these States clearly reveals tn.
,..htr!or advantages and me-!ts OF the
) Irginia law. and the General Assem-.
hIy should receive fun credit for tho
splendid service they have rendered
mo Commonwealth by so promDtl, en-
acting. without revision, the progress.
sivH budget bill presented by the Com
mission on Economy and Efficiency and
urged ny Governor Wc3tmoreland
Davis. '
r.