Report 4 Public Budgeting 940:172g Michael J. Licari

In this assignment you are to pick an area of spending at the local, state, or federal government and present an argument for why the service should be increased, cut, privatized, or completely eliminated. Your argument should consist of three parts. First, what are the relevant criteria for evaluating this choice? Some examples might include: can the market provide this good more efficiently? Does the program work? Is it within the mission of the agency responsible for it? Who benefits from the program? Are the benefits disproportionately aimed at certain groups or regions? What public support is there for the program? Second, how well does the current level of expenditure meet your criteria? If you lack the information to address all of your criteria, you should suggest ways that this information might be collected. Third, you should make a budget recommendation based on the first two parts.

There is not one way to approach this analysis because the choice and weight of criteria are value-laden. However, you should think about alternative arguments and how you would defend your choices.

I want you to pick an area that interests you, so I will allow you to choose any level of government and topic that you want. You may also choose an expenditure that does not currently exist and make a case for it.

This report should be no more than 8-10 pages long, double spaced. It is due when you give your presentation.