Public Money: Budget 101
How dollars move and why budgets signal priorities more than speeches do
A budget is the clearest map of what a government will actually do. Agencies submit requests based on what it takes to maintain services. Executives revise those requests. Legislative bodies negotiate the final plan.
Every dollar signals a choice. Underfunded transit systems run slow buses. Underfunded public health departments respond late to outbreaks. Underfunded school districts cut staff or raise class sizes.
Budgets reveal priorities better than speeches. A program with glowing praise but minimal funding has been set up to fail long before it reaches the public. Money determines staffing, maintenance cycles, wait times, and the real quality of services.