• Finkler et al. (2023). Chapter 1: Introduction to Financial Management.
• Governmental Accounting Standards Board, "Why Governmental Accounting and Financial Reporting Is—And Should Be—Different"

• Participate in the "class map" activity.
• Participate and post a short bio in the Lesson 1 Self-Introduction Discussion Forum.
• Complete the required reading.

• Finkler et al. (2023):
  • Chapter 2: Planning for Budget Success
  • Chapter 3: Budget Concepts
• Jimenez, B.S. and Alfonso, W.B. (2022). Revisiting the theory of revenue diversification: insights from an empirical analysis of municipal budgetary solvency. Public Budgeting and Finance, 42(2),  196-220. https://doi-org.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/10.1111/pbaf.12309
• Coe, C. K. (2007).
  • Chapter 3: "Budgeting"
  • Chapter 5: "Cash Management" (pp. 150–160)
• Wang, X. H. (2014). Chapter 8: "Cash Management: Determining the Optimal Cash Balance"
• Mughan, S. and Singla, A. (2023). Does revenue-motivated policing alter who receives traffic citations? Evidence from driver race and income in Indiana. Public Administration Review, 83(2), 353-366. https://doi-org.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/10.1111/puar.13595
• Rubin, M. and Bartle, J. (2021). Gender-responsive budgeting: A budget reform to address gender inequity. Public Administration Review, 101(2), 391-405. https://doi-org.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/10.1111/padm.12802
• Purcell, M. D. (2009). A balanced budget: It’s not just about cuts. Government Finance Review, 25(6), 30–33 (e-Reserves).
• Kelly, J. M., & Rivenbark, W. C. (2006). Performance budgeting in municipal government. Public Performance & Management Review, 30(1), 35–46. 
• Yi Lu, E., & Chen, G. (2016).  A Day Late and a Dollar Short? A Study of Budget Passage in New York State. Public Budgeting and Finance, 36(3), 3–21.

• Complete the required readings.
• Participate in Lesson 2 group and class discussions. Discussion Prompt: Discuss how the use of performance budgeting can impact efficiency criteria in allocating revenue. Please explain and support your position. 
• Submit a one-page research proposal outline.
• Complete Lesson 2 Balanced Budget Problem: Coe, Chapter 3, Problem #2 (pp. 93–94).
• Complete Finkler et al. (2022), Chapter 3. Georgeville City Government Problem 3-29, pages 102-103.

• Finkler et al. (2023). Chapter 5: Captial Budgeting
• Wang, X. H. (2014). Chapter 6: "Cost-Benefit Analysis"
• Marlowe, J., Rivenbark, W. C., & Vogt, A. J. (2009). Chapter 1: "Capital budgeting: Rationale, scope, policy and process." In Capital budgeting and finance: A guide for local governments (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: ICMA Press (e-Reserves).
• Changhoon, J. (2002). The effect of local earmarking on capital spending in Georgia counties. State and Local Government Review 34(1), 29–37.
• Fishbein, J., & Morrill, C. P. (2009). Capital program considerations in challenging times. Government Finance Review, 25(3), 14–23 (e-Reserves).
• Mondogaziev. T. T. & Kriz, K. A. (2023). Captial appreciation bonds and the cost of borrowing. Public Budgeting and Finance, 43(2),  27-52.
• Karl, E. (2021). Prioritizing Community Values in Capital Budgeting. Government Finance Review, 37(3), 16. https://ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/trade-journals/prioritizing-community-values-capital-budgeting/docview/2546196014/se-2
• Srithongrung, A. (2008). The Impact of State Capital Management Programs on State Economic Performance. Public Budgeting and Finance, 28(3), 83-107.

For those of you who wish further information on this topic (this reading is optional):

• National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO). (2014). Capital budgeting in the states. Washington, D.C.

• Complete the required readings.
• Participate in Lesson 3 group and class discussions/ Discussion Prompt: Use examples to discuss the role and value of cost-benefit analysis in government.
• Choose your bibliographic materials: You are required to discuss your selections and the direction of your paper with the instructor at least once by the end of Lesson 3.
• Complete Finkler et al. (2022). Chapter 5. Run Down Rural District Problem 5-31, pp. 208-209.

• Finkler et al. (2023). Chapter 14: Financial Statement Analysis
• Wang, X. H. (2010). Chapter 7: "Financial Performance Monitoring"

• Complete the required readings.
• Complete Lesson 4: Obtaining information from ACFR Analysis Paper assignment.
• Participate in Lesson 4 group and class discussions. Discussion Prompt: Why monitor performance in government? Use examples to discuss the importance of financial performance monitoring.

• Coe C. K. (2007). Chapter 6: Debt Management
• Wang, X. H. (2014). Chapter 13: "Debt Capacity Analysis"
• Bastida, F., Guillamon, M.-D., & Benito, B. (2014). Explaining interest rates in local government borrowing. International Public Management Journal, 17(1), 45–73.
• Robbins, M. D., & Simonsen, B. (2012). Do debt levels influence state borrowing costs? Public Administration Review, 72(4), 498–505.
• Greer, R.A. and Denison, D.V. (2016). Determinants of Debt Concentration at the State Level. Public Budgeting and Finance, 36(4),111-130.

• Complete the required readings.
• Write a two-page, double-spaced analysis of the Lakeview Case at the end of Wang, Chapter 13 (pp. 175–180). Analyze the amounts of debt service and debt outstanding that should be reduced in order for the city to meet the requirement of the 10% benchmark.
• Participate in Lesson 5 group and class discussions. Discussion Prompt: Discuss the need and value of debt capacity analysis in your state and local governments.

• Finkler, et al. (2023). Chapter 12: Unique Aspects of Accounting for State and Local Governments Part 1: The Recording Process
• Coe, C. K. (2007). Chapter 2: "Accounting"
• Harris, J. (2005). The discourse of governmental accounting and auditing. Public Budgeting and Finance, Silver Anniversary Edition, 154–179.

• Complete the required readings.
• Participate in Lesson 6 group and class discussions. Discussion Prompt: After reading the Coe chapter and the Harris article, discuss why fund accounting is important to the overall government accounting system.
• Complete Coe, Chapter 2, Problem #2 (p. 44).

• N/A

• Work on your research paper.

• Finkler, et al. (2023):
  • Chapter 9: Taking Stock of Where You Are: The Balance Sheet
  • Chapter 10: Reproting the Results of Operations: The Activity and Cash Flow Statements
• Langella, C. Anessi-Pessina, E. Redmayne, N. B. and Scilia, M. (2021). Financial Reporting transparency, citizens understanding, and public participation: A Survey experiment study. Public Administration Review, 101(2), 584-603. https://doi-org.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/10.1111/padm.12804
• Beckett-Camarata, J. (2009). Local government measurement and use of performance accounting and financial reporting data in planning and budgeting decision support: A multi-case study. Public Performance and Management Review, 33(2), 255–265.

• Complete the required readings.
• Participate in Lesson 7 group and class discussions. Discussion Prompt: How is financial accountability in government served by the reporting process?
• Access a state or local government's ACFR for the last two years, and write a two-page, double-spaced analysis of the fund balance for the past two years. 

• Finkler, et al (2023).  Chapter 4 Understanding Costs
• Wang, X. H. (2014).
  • Chapter 3: "Cost Estimation"
  • Chapter 4: "Cost Comparison"

• Complete the required readings.
• Participate in Lesson 8 group and class discussions. Discussion Prompt: Identify and discuss some budgetary or financial situations in which cost should be considered.
• Complete Lesson 8 Cost of Operation: Wang, Chapter 3, Exercise #5, Cost of Operations (p. 52),
• Complete Lesson 8 Present Value Analysis Exercise: Wang, Chapter 4, Exercise #5, Present Value Analysis: Lease or Buy (p. 61).
• Complete Finkler, Chapter 4, Problem 4-38, Break-Even Analysis, p. 163.

• Finkler, et al. (2023). Chapter 3: Forecasting pp. 93-96
• Wang, X. H. (2014). Chapter 1: "Revenue Forecasting"
• Chung, H., Williams, D. and Do, M. R. (2022). For Better or Worse? Revenue Forecasting with Machine Learning Approaches. Public Performance and Management Review, 45(5), 1122-1154. https://doi-org.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/10.1080/15309576.2022.2073551
• Williams, D. W., & Kavanagh, S. C. (2016). Local government revenue forecasting methods: competition and comparison. Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management, 28(4), 488-526. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPBAFM-28-04-2016-B004

Note: Wang's reading provides the examples of the old version of Excel. You can explore the tutorials to learn more about the later versions of Excel at LinkedIn Learning. Here is a collection of the tutorials for PADM 522 on Simple Moving Average, Exponential Smoothing, and Regression in Excel.

• Complete the required readings.
• Participate in Lesson 9 group and class discussions. Discussion Prompt: Why are accuratshortagese forecasts often difficult to achieve?
• Complete Lesson 9 Forecasting Exercise: Wang, Chapter 1, Exercise #6, Forecasting Franchise Tax in Sunbelt (p. 19).

• Finkler, et al. (2023).  Chapter 15: Financial Condition Analysis
• Wang, X. H. (2014). Chapter 12: "Financial Condition Analysis"
• Rivenbark, W., Fasiello,R., and Tassi, F. (2023). The performance function in local government: Does location impact performance data use? Public Administration Review, 83(5), 1123-1136. https://doi-org.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/10.1111/puar.13651
• Fasiello, R., Rivenbark, W.C. and Bianchi, C. (2022). Exploring the Shift from Output Measures to Outcome Measures of Service Delivery: Insights from Municipal Research. Public Performance & Management Review, 45(2), 428-447. https://doi-org.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/10.1080/15309576.2021.1988648

• Complete the required readings.
• Participate in Lesson10 group and class discussions. Discussion Prompt: Financial crises in government are often characterized by revenue shortage. Cutting spending is the first thing that comes to mind in many governments during crises. Estimating spending cuts and their impact can be part of an FCA. Use examples in government to discuss situations in which spending cuts are imposed or implemented and the financial impact of the cuts is estimated.

• Finkler, et al. (2023). Chapter 15. Financial Condition Analysis. pp. 577-579.
• Wang, X. H. (2014). Chapter 14: "Financial Risk Assessment"
• Greer, R. (2016). Local Government Risk Assessment: The Effect of Government Type on Credit Rating Decisions in Texas. Public Budgeting and Finance, 36(2), 70–90.

• Complete the required readings.
• Participate in Lesson 11 group and class discussions. Discussion Prompt: Discuss the role of risk measurement in managing revenue risk.
• Complete Wang, Chapter 14, Exercise #3 (pp. 196–197).

• N/A

• Continue to work on your research paper, which is due by the end of Lesson 12.

• Wang, X. H. (2014). Chapter 2: "Resource Development Analysis"
• Chernick, H., Langley, A., & Reschovsky, A. (2011). Revenue diversification and the financing of large American central cities. Public Finance and Management, 11(2), 138–159.
• Donaldson, G. (2012). The city of Atlanta shares insights for increasing revenue. Government Finance Review, 28(3), 32–36 (e-Reserves).

• Complete the required readings.
• Participate in Lesson 12 group and class discussions. Discussion Prompt: When a revenue shortage occurs, many people think that tax increase is the only option.  Discuss cases of revenue shortages in a state or local government when a tax increase may not be the best option.
• Complete Wang, Chapter 2, Exercise 3 (p. 39). 
• Submit the research paper.

• N/A

• Take the Final Exam by May 5.

Please note that the Final Exam will open at 12:00 a.m. on Friday. However, this course utilizes finals week. The submission of the final exam is due by 5 pm on the Monday of finals week.

Please be aware that you have three hours to complete this final exam and are given only one attempt. Once you open the exam, you must complete it. If you navigate away, the timer will continue running, and the exam will auto-submit when the time runs out. Please make sure that you upload your answer file before the time is up. You should indicate your full name in your exam file name (e.g., allansmith_exam.docx).