Arizona State University School of Public Affairs PAF 591 Arizona Budget and Finance Seminar Spring 2008 Syllabus

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1 Arizona State University School of Public Affairs PAF 591 Arizona Budget and Finance Seminar Spring 2008 Syllabus Professor Frank Sackton Telephone: (Office) Associate Jill Young (Home) Location: UCENT (Room TBD) Fax: Class Meets: 6 Saturdays 1/26, 2/2, 2/16, frank.sackton@asu.edu or 3/1, 3/22, and 4/5 jill.young@asu.edu Time: 9 AM - 4 PM Office hours: By appointment Course Focus This is a problem-solving and decision-making course using as a vehicle Arizona Budget and Finance situations and case studies. For students who are interested in a traditional budgeting course, please refer to PAF 506 Public Budgeting and Finance. In our PAF 591 course, all aspects of budget formulation, implementation, review and analysis will be covered. The student will be exposed to budget and finance management problems encountered by local governments, the state agencies, the governor s Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting, and the budget staff of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee. Operations of the Legislative Senate and House Appropriations Committees will be covered. The student will engage in case analysis, problem solving, decision making, and teamwork dynamics. Another component of this course is attending public meetings relating to budget/ finance issues to experience and reflect on course concepts in action. Course Objectives By the end of the semester, the student will be able to demonstrate competency in the following areas, all of which will have an orientation to Arizona state and local government budget and finance issues. 1. Understand the underlying philosophy, operation, and organization of government finance administration. 2. Analyze, solve problems, and make decisions involving management and budgetary matters. 3. Apply quantitative and qualitative techniques of analysis to public finance problems. 4. Understand group dynamics and to work in teams. 5. Operate in the cultural environment of public finance organizations. Required Materials: 1. Banovetz, James M (ed.), (1996). Managing Local Government Finance: Cases in Decision Making. International Management Association. (ASU Bookstore). (Will be identified in syllabus as Banovetz No. 1 ).

2 2. Banovetz, James M (ed.), (1998). Managing Local Government: Cases in Decision Making. International Management Association. (ASU Bookstore). (Will be identified in syllabus as Banovetz No. 2 ) 3. Other readings as assigned by the instructor (handouts or postings on ASU Blackboard). Course Requirements 1. Attendance and participation in class and online activities and discussion are essential. This includes seminar requirements of leading a reading discussion and/or additional case research. 2. Timeliness in turning in the cases according to the course schedule. 3. Quality written work. 4. Attendance at two public budget/ finance meetings and corresponding written reflective statements. Grades Participation (6 x approx. 5 pts) Case Analyses (5 x 10 pts) Reflective Statements (2 x 10 pts) Total 30 points 50 points 20 points 100 points Course Grades will be based on the following points: A B C D E 0-59 Case Memos Throughout the semester the student will be conducting case analyses of public finance administration concepts and problems. Cases are written about situations that public finance managers commonly face. As students read about public managers confronting various challenges, they study how to frame problems, formulate strategies, make decisions, and take responsibility for the consequence of their actions. Using the case method, the students practice thinking how managers could have acted more effectively or ethically. Case studies are intellectual practice fields that sharpen the student s problem-solving, decision-making and leadership skills. After careful case study, students write their analysis of the case in the following form: Approximately four typed pages, double-spaced (detailed guidelines will be posted). Memorandum heading with student name, date, and case number and title. Organization of memorandum: Central issue(s) Alternatives considered and possible outcomes.

3 Recommended solution and rationale. Students will turn in their completed analyses of the cases identified in the class schedule on the dates specified. Thereafter, the student teams will discuss and solve each case in a team mode. An alternating team leader (spokesperson) will present the team s solution to the class with a PowerPoint presentation. After all teams have presented, the instructor will: 1. Issue to each student the actual decision that was made on the case. 2. Clarify the manner in which each case relates to the budget/finance process and the lessons learned. Seminar Participation Requirements In addition to case discussions and other general participation, students will lead a class discussion and/or content activity on at least one of the assigned readings. In doing so, they will want to focus on the main themes of the reading as well as bring in other related research or information when applicable. Discussion leaders should engage the class in a thoughtful dialogue. Students will choose readings in the first class session on January 26. Students will also conduct research on how concepts brought forth in the assigned cases have been dealt with here in Arizona. Students will be assigned at least one case either individually or in small teams (depending on class size). Findings on related Arizona budget/finance situations and how they were/are handled will be presented following the class discussion of the case as presented in the text. In conducting their research, students may use a variety of sources for information, such as the internet, public documents, newspaper articles, A.R.S., or interviews. Public Meeting Attendance and Reflective Statements Students are expected to attend two public meetings (at least one meeting at the state level and one meeting at the city/county/local level) relating to budget/ finance issues to experience and reflect on course concepts in action. Several meeting options exist to satisfy this assignment throughout the spring, such as JLBC meetings, JCCR meetings, state budget hearings, finance committee meetings, local finance committee meetings, local citizen budget hearings, etc. The meetings are held throughout the Valley both in the day and evening. Most of the state meetings or hearings are also available for live online viewing. After attending each meeting, students are required to write a reflective statement (approximately 4 pages, double-spaced, 12-font) about their experience. The reflective statement should be an analytical narrative describing your experience and linking it to course readings and discussions (that may include this as well as other MPA classes). All reflective statements are due by the last class, April 5, unless other arrangements have been worked out with the instructor in advance. IMPORTANT NOTES: All writing should use professional language (no slang). Grades will take into account grammar, spelling, and presentation. Papers must be well developed, logically consistent, and brief (to capture the attention of busy decision-makers, documents must be concise). For example, and A paper should not have grammar or spelling errors, be logically presented and easy to follow.

4 All assignments and discussion postings MUST be turned in/ completed on time to receive credit. ALL assignments are due as stated in the course schedule. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE YOUR ASSIGNMENTS ARE TURNED IN BY THAT TIME. Computer-related problems (i.e., "my isn't working" or "my printer broke") ARE NOT acceptable excuses. Accessing the Course Site/ Technical Matters: 1. Using any computer connected to the Internet, open a web browser (such as Internet Explorer or Netscape) and go to 2. Login using your ASURITE user ID and password 3. Under the My Courses heading, find and click on the PAF 591 Arizona Budget and Finance link. Note: If you do not see a My Courses heading when you first open click on the Courses tab at the top of the page to find the PAF 591 link. Communication Contacting the Instructor is the best way to contact me (Jill). I check my at least once a day. PLEASE PUT 591 IN THE SUBJECT LINE. You can also use my cellular phone number ( ). All students must have an account (preferably an ASU account) that is checked regularly. will be the primary method of communication for announcements, schedule changes, and other important information. The instructor will the entire class through Blackboard. If you do not regularly check your ASU , you must have the account forwarded to an you will regularly check. CLASS SCHEDULE It is the student s responsibility to follow this schedule and keep track of all due dates and times. Changes to the course schedule, readings, etc. may be made at the discretion of the instructor. DATE TOPIC/ ASSIGNMENT January 26 Class 1 Introduction to the course: Objectives, requirements, expectations, and discussion of the case study method. Student Introductions: Each student will present an oral selfintroduction (approximately three to five minutes in length). Sample Case Study (Please read prior to class for in class discussion and analysis): Welcome to the new town manager? (Banovetz No. 1, Case 4, pp ) 1. Think AZ, Making Sense of the State Budget

5 February 2 Class 2 Case: Finances and development (Banovetz No. 1, Case 2, pp ) 1. Stiglitz, Role of Government in Economic Development 2. Morrison Institute, APC New Economy Policy Choices 3. League of Arizona Cities and Towns, Role of Arizona Cities and Towns February 16 Class 3 Case: Politics, user fees, and Barracudas (Banovetz No. 2, Case 5, pp ) 1. NCSL, The Appropriate Role of User Charges in State and Local Finance 2. Citizen s Finance Review Commission, A Fiscal Toolbox 3. Davis, U.S. Judge s Ruling Could End Forest User Fees March 1 Class 4 Case: Housing the homeless in Willow County (Banovetz No. 2, Case 7, pp ) 1. Morrison Institute, The Five Shoes Waiting to Drop on Arizona s Future 2. Goldsmith & Eggers, The New Shape of Government 3. Stephens & Wikstrom, Contemporary American Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations March 22 Class 5 Case: County prison overtime (Banovetz No. 2, Case 19, pp ) 1. Department of Corrections Audit 2. Police See Overtime as Perk of the Badge article April 5 Class 6 Case: Infrastructure demands versus debt (Banovetz No. 1, Case 6, pp ) 1. Phoenix Bond Program Materials 2. GPP, Arizona Infrastructure information 3. JCCR Rules In addition to the above schedule, there will be lectures on the following subjects as time permits: Indexing for Inflation Leadership in the Workplace Decision Making in Public Administration Planning/Strategic Formulation/Critical Thinking Economics/Budgeting Team Building and Operation

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