Budget Execution Course

Module 1: Overview of the Federal Budget Process

• Module 1 learning objectives
• The changing budget environment
• Purposes of the federal budget
• Size and composition of the federal budget
• Receipts (revenue)
• Expenditures (outlays)
• Surplus, deficit, and debt
• Competition for funding
• Evolution of the federal budget and financial management structure
• Key players in the budget process
• Key central agency budget process related guidance
• Phases of the organizational budget cycle
• Budget formulation
• Congressional action
• Budget execution
• Pipelines of budget authority receipt and usage
• The purposes of organizational budgets
• Presidential role in the budget execution phase
• Deferrals
• Rescissions
• Principles of appropriation law
• Impact of federal appropriations law on legal obligation of funds
• Review exercise

Module 2: Overview of the Budget Execution Process

• Module 2 learning objectives
• Types of appropriation acts and sequence of execution events
• Appropriation act
• Appropriation warrant
• Apportionment
• Allotment
• Sub-allotment or allocation
• Resource manager or fund certifying official
• Commitment
• Obligations
• Receipt and acceptance of goods and services — referred to as expended appropriation
• Invoice received
• Voucher preparation
• Document matching and certification
• Outlay
• Internal controls
• Administrative control of funds
• Federal employee ethical standards

Module 3: Development, Modification, and Distribution of an Operating Plan

• Module 3 learning objectives
• Budget development overview
• GPRA and the budget
• Mission statement
• Strategic plan (or goals)
• Performance budget
• Performance and accountability reports (PAR)
• Reasons for budget modifications
• Purposes of an operating plan
• Accommodating budget changes
• Step 1, step 2, step 3, step 4, step 5
• Apportionment process
• Requirement
• Hint
• Special remarks/requirement

Module 4: Monitoring and Tracking Performance

• Module 4 learning objectives
• Overview — how an operating plan can be used during budget execution
• What should be monitored and tracked — financial metrics
• What should be monitored and tracked — performance metrics
• Work measurement (workload)
• Unit cost measurement (efficiency)
• Productivity index measurement (effectiveness)
• Effectiveness
• Productivity improvement
• Improving productivity
• Special situations and factors affecting monitoring and tracking
• Special note on full-time equivalents (FTE)
• Special note on earmarks
• Special note on operating under a continuing resolution
• Special note on year-end spending
• Preparing, presenting, and following up the mid-year review (MYR)

Module 5: Responding to Unanticipated Events and Potential ADA Violations

• Module 5 learning objectives
• Understanding factors that could affect your programs
• External factors
• Internal factors
• Overview of reprogramming and transfer
• Adhering to criteria for reprogramming
• Cost considerations
• Operational impact considerations
• Displaying information
• Understanding ADA
• ADA and budget execution

Module 6: Managing Reimbursable Work and Contractual Agreements

• Module 6 learning objectives
• Overview of reimbursable operations
• Entering into agreements
• Paying for orders
• Obligating an appropriation
• Crediting payments
• Budgeting for reimbursable work
• Overview of revolving fund operations
• Overview of contracting
• Categories of services contracts
• The contracting process
• Types of contracts

Module 7: Preparing for Year-End Closeout

• Module 7 learning objectives
• Understanding unused budget authority
• Responding to possible ADA violations at year-end
• Agency reporting requirements
• Standard Form 133 report

Module 8: Federal Budget Execution Summary

• Summary and review of budget execution process