Connecticut House Bill HB05969

Connecticut 2015 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/22/15
• Refer: 1/22/15

Caption

An Act Requiring Consensus Expenditure Estimates By The Secretary Of Policy And Management And The Director Of The Legislative Office Of Fiscal Analysis.

Impact

If enacted, HB 05969 would enhance the state's budgetary process by mandating that both revenue and expenditure estimates be consistent across state fiscal agencies. This is intended to build a more accurate financial picture of the state's economic standing and needs, which can, in turn, lead to improved fiscal planning. The introduction of consensus expenditure estimates could help in aligning financial expectations and reducing the likelihood of budget shortfalls or other fiscal crises due to misestimation.

Summary

House Bill 05969 proposes an amendment to section 2-36c of Connecticut's general statutes, which currently mandates the issuance of consensus revenue estimates by the Secretary of Policy and Management and the Director of the Legislative Office of Fiscal Analysis. This bill aims to extend those requirements to include consensus expenditure estimates as well. The objective of this legislative change is primarily to minimize discrepancies in spending projections between the state's budget offices, fostering a more unified and accurate fiscal analysis moving forward.

Contention

While the bill is generally aimed at improving fiscal accountability and management, there may be points of contention regarding the effectiveness of such an amendment. Critics could argue about the potential bureaucratic implications of requiring consensus estimates, questioning if it might slow down the budgeting process or if it adequately addresses the root causes of spending projection discrepancies. Proponents argue that the benefits of enhanced clarity and communication between budget offices outweigh any potential downsides.