Connecticut House Bill HB05332

Connecticut 2017 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/10/17
• Refer: 1/10/17

Caption

An Act Phasing In Zero-based Budgeting For State Agencies.

Impact

If enacted, HB 05332 would lead to significant changes in the budgetary processes of state agencies. By mandating that agencies justify their budget requests from the ground up, state allocators would gain a clearer understanding of the actual needs and priorities of each agency. This could potentially streamline government spending, eliminate unnecessary costs, and ensure that taxpayer dollars are allocated more efficiently. However, the process may also lead to pushback from agencies accustomed to more predictable funding levels.

Summary

House Bill 05332, introduced by Representative Srinivasan, proposes the implementation of zero-based budgeting for state agencies over a ten-year period. The bill aims to foster fiscal responsibility by requiring each state agency to justify its funding annually, beginning with a reduction of appropriations by ten percent from the previous fiscal year. This approach focuses on reassessing the necessity of funds for each agency instead of relying on incremental budgeting, which often perpetuates outdated expenditures.

Contention

The proposed shift to zero-based budgeting may raise concerns among some legislators and agency heads. Critics argue that the new requirements could lead to funding instability, particularly for programs that rely heavily on consistent funding for ongoing operations. There is apprehension that the demands of justifying budgets annually could divert valuable time and resources away from actual service delivery. Additionally, lawmakers may face pressure from constituents who are unable to adapt to changing funding priorities in essential services.

Voting_history

As of the latest session, the bill has been referred to the Appropriations Committee, but no further voting details or records of legislative support or opposition have been documented within the provided information.