Question 4: Reading a Budget (25 points) This exercise involves learning to read

Question

Question 4: Reading a Budget (25 points) This exercise involves learning to read and use information in public budgets. As part of this assignment you will be looking at a budget of an U.S. federal agency. First, pick an agency (do not pick a state) from the list available at https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies and make sure that the agency publishes a budget online. Download budgeting information on the agency of your choice. Review the agency’s budget and answer the following questions as best as you can:

1.What is the mission(s) of this agency?

2.What are the major programs carried out by this agency?

3.What is the percent increase in total requested expenditures for the next year over the last year’s budget?

4.What object of expenditure category is the largest? Which is growing the fastest?

5.Is the number of personnel (full-time equivalent or FTE) in the agency growing, and is the growth rate faster or slower than the personnel budget (in dollars)? What does this tell you about changes in average salaries?

Explanation / Answer

I have chosen ‘Administration for Children and Families’ federal agency of US for this exercise.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is a division of the Department of Health and Human Services that funds state, territorial, local and tribal organizations to provide family assistance (social assistance), childcare, child assistance, Head Start, and other programs related to children, families, individuals and communities.

1. What is the mission(s) of this agency?

ACF's mission is to promote the health and well-being of families and children through leadership, partnership and federal resources for the compassionate and effective delivery of human services. ACF programs are designed to help children to become healthy adults and communities to become more prosperous and support their family members.

2. What are the major programs carried out by this agency?

ACF is the second largest agency in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services which administers more than 60 programs with a budget of more than $53 billion. Major programs carried out by this agency are:

1. Temporary assistance for needy families

2. Foster care and permanency

3. Head Start

4. Child Support Enforcement and Family support

5. Child care and development fund

6. LIHEAP

7 Social Services Block Grant

3. What is the percent increase in total requested expenditures for the next year over the last year’s budget?

ACF’s total budget for 2017 was 34,841 million dollar and for 2018 it is 35,471 million dollar. So, there is 1.80% increase in total expenditure for current year from last year’s budget.

4. What object of expenditure category is the largest? Which is growing the fastest?

‘Temporary assistance for needy families’ is the main category where large portion of budget is spent. Around 31% of total budget is used in ‘Temporary assistance for needy families’ category. ‘Foster care and Permanency’ is the category which is growing faster. Around 18% of total budget is used in this category out of total budget in 2017 and 474 million dollars expenditure increased in 2018 for ‘Foster care and Permanency’ category.

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