Centralized Budget Debate

Part I: In support of budget authority centralized by a separate city or government Unit

I.             Budget authority should be granted by a centralized separate city or government unit.

A.    All budgeting choices are made from a single location averting uncertainty and oversights

B.     A consistent procedure and systems methods prevents office overheads

C.     There is a clear chain of command with a focused concept

II.                 Advantages of a centralized budgeting process

A.    Agencies with high numbers of untrained personnel can still make important decisions and an experienced supervisor is on hand to verify accuracy

B.     Centralized budgeting is backed because lower level members lack certifications needed for decision making

C.     Identifying a single source of authorization ensures that a single command can swiftly infuse the entire agency

III.              Why centralization is preferred instead of decentralization

A.    Cities shift through autonomous change experiencing demographic evolution from rural to urban and agricultural to industrial making centralized authority more favorable

B.     A centralized police agency is preferred since change and social disorganization exists

C.     A single authority provides greater ambitions, reduce rigidity, diminished corrective challenges, less community grievances, improved treatment of minorities, good judgment, adaptable to techniques and procedures

IV.              Centralized budgeting is good for small departments

A.    The budget can be viewed in various ways

1.      Planning document is the income document for what the agency plans to accomplish

2.      Political document is a financial representation of the agency’s values

3.      Living document is the situation or incident impacting department change

B.     Prioritization of funding is more efficient and easier to establish

1.      Judicial requirements

2.      Risks to staff/police

3.      Monetary advantages

4.      Growth in local services

5.      Identify competitions

C.     Grants and asset forfeiture funds are good sources to enhance agency’s capital improvement programs

V.                Centralized agencies run more efficiently

A.    Single departments reduce interior competition

B.     By pulling all budgeting efforts into a single department reduces redundancies by simplifying the budgeting process and minimize expenditures

C.     Agencies minimize the embezzlement of funds and account for variations

Part II: IN OPPOSITION TO BUDGET AUTHORITY CENTRALIZED BY A SEPARATE CITY OR GOVERNMENT UNIT

I.                    Budget authority should be granted across multiple levels of a criminal justice agency instead of centralized.

A.    Centralization resembles a authoritarian form of government wherein personnel are required to deliver results according to what superiors assign to them

B.     Decentralization lowers delays, improves development with faster feedback and groundbreaking solutions

C.     Decentralization empowers members of the entire management team to make their own cases for the budget process

II.                 Advantages of decentralization

A.    Timely decisions and increased motivation

B.     Eases the burden on top management and day problem solving

C.     Facilitates broadening and the development of lower management

III.              Why centralization is not effective as a budgeting authority in criminal justice

A.    Centralization can carry risks such as increased layers of approvals and slower decision making

B.     There is an inflexibility to customize production

C.     Strategic planning, budgeting, and talent deployment are based on costs of labor

IV.              Decentralization is more effective than centralized budgeting processes

A. The compiled data is more detailed, up-to-date, and relevant because decentralized agencies are more in touch with local and regional citizens

B.  Employees prefer change in a fast-paced environment that allows them to have input and feedback

C.  Agencies allow budget makers to run a department as one see fit but are still held accountable

V.                Centralized agencies are not more efficient

A.    Employees in the lower chain of command are restricted in the decision-making processes and do not execute new processes without prior approval

B.     Policies are put in place, so subordinates follow directions of superiors without venturing off

C.     Small local police services are replaced by regional or provincial police agencies