Connecticut Senate Bill SB00050

Connecticut 2017 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/12/17
• Refer: 1/12/17

Caption

An Act Creating A Pilot Program For Zero-based Budgeting For The Department Of Consumer Protection And The Department Of Agriculture.

Impact

If enacted, this pilot program is set to start with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, and is intended to gather data and insights that could inform broader application of zero-based budgeting across state agencies. Supporters of the bill believe it could result in more efficient use of taxpayer dollars by ensuring that funds are allocated based on necessity rather than historical spending patterns. This could potentially lead to significant reforms in the budgeting processes of state agencies, impacting how public services are funded and managed in a time of fiscal scrutiny.

Summary

Senate Bill 50, also known as the Act Creating a Pilot Program for Zero-Based Budgeting, proposes to implement a trial program for zero-based budgeting specifically for the Department of Consumer Protection and the Department of Agriculture. The bill aims to change the way these departments formulate their budgets by requiring them to justify all expenses from scratch for each new fiscal year. This approach is designed to promote cost-effectiveness and thorough justification of expenditures, shifting away from incremental budgeting practices that often perpetuate existing spending without critical evaluation.

Contention

However, the bill has faced some debate regarding its implications. Critics argue that zero-based budgeting can be labor-intensive and time-consuming, potentially leading to disruptions in the operations of the affected departments. They raise concerns about whether the benefits of efficiency will outweigh the challenges in implementation, especially in existing budgetary constraints. Additionally, there are apprehensions about how effective the trial program will be in yielding comprehensive results that can be extrapolated to other state agencies, given the unique missions and needs of different departments.