Students are to utilize the same local or state government from short papers #1 and #2 (Georgia: Brian Kemp) to research a public finance dilemma in their chosen local or state government. Students should prepare an 8-10 page public finance recommendation addressed to the head of that government (i.e., mayor, commission chair, or governor) with the following components:
Executive Summary
Background: Organizational Structure, Economic Conditions/Outlook, and Fiscal Policies, major revenue sources and major expenditures.
Problem Statement: Identification of high cost/major expenditure
Analysis of Expenditure:
What are expenditures? What programs are covered under this expenditure?
What is public good and choice? How does this expenditure reflect both?
How does political equilibrium affect public finance? What is the political equilibrium of your chosen expenditure?
What is cost-benefit analysis? What are the findings of a cost-benefit of your expenditure’s programs?
What are different revenue strategies? What taxation strategies are used to fund your expenditure’s programs?
Recommendations:
Is the current funding level appropriate for this public good?
What changes should be made to the revenue streams and expenditure level?
How will these changes impact the local or state government’s service to constituents?
See Executive Summary Guidelines for expectations. When you are discussing the above areas, you must provide context for each category to ensure understanding about the issue (using historical information, data, current status, options for moving forward and explaining the challenges and opportunities/benefits for each option). Just because you are writing the summary to an executive, it does not mean the executive is fully aware of all the details as you are. So … fully explain.
When you choose your level of government, you can go to that government’s website and seek information regarding the structure, budget, goals, strategic plan, and other information that will benefit this assignment. For example, if a student chooses Lee County, GA. You can go to Lee County’s government website and see some of this information. The information may not be on one or two webpages, so you should be diligent and seek this information out.
Ensure to use in-text citations and have a reference page.
There is no need for a title page or abstract
