Posted: | January 24, 2013 01:31 PM |
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From: | Senator Mike Brubaker |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Two-Year Budget Cycle |
In the near future I intend to re-introduce legislation that would establish a biennial (two-year) budget cycle in Pennsylvania. Through a constitutional amendment, this proposal would require the enactment of a budget covering a two-year period. Such a proposal would increase efficiency and productivity in state government, and encourage longer-range planning among state agencies and other entities receiving state appropriations. A two-year budget cycle would help to facilitate comprehensive planning by incorporating a long-term perspective and allowing for increased predictability in the budget process. This proposal would put into place a commitment to move expenditures and policy in a given direction for a longer period of time, and reduces costs of both time and resources. Further, such a process would allow for in-depth review and evaluation of state programs and encourage outcome-focused budgeting. Our current budget process is time-consuming, repetitive, and inefficient. Repeating this fight every year only contributes to the complexity of the budget process and encourages delay. This legislation was introduced in the 2011-2012 session as Senate Bill 267; Senators FOLMER , D. WHITE , EICHELBERGER , WAUGH , MENSCH , GREENLEAF , PIPPY , BOSCOLA , ORIE , WARD, TOMLINSON , McILHINNEY and ALLOWAY were co-sponsors. If you have any questions regarding this legislation, please contact Stephanie Buchanan at 717-787-4420 or sbuchanan@pasen.gov. |
Introduced as SB598