Discussion5

 
Discussion: Revenue Streams and Expenditures
Revenue streams for federal, state, and local governments come from a variety of sources. The federal government relies heavily on individual income taxes and social insurance. State governments rely mostly on sales taxes and individual state income taxes, and local governments rely on property taxes. These tax revenues are collected through user fees and intergovernmental transfers such as grants, licenses, permits, fines, and forfeitures. These revenue streams are used to pay for expenditures related to public services, like those provided by criminal justice agencies.
To prepare for this Discussion:

Review Chapter 5 in your course text, The Basics of Public Budgeting and Financial Management, and consider the role of revenue streams in funding public budgets.
Review the video segment “Budget Planning” and consider the various examples of revenue streams mentioned.
Listen to the audio clip “Debate Looms Over Budget’s Approach to Crime” and think about how expenditures might be justified to keep criminal justice programs running.
Review the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department’s “Appropriated Budget 2010-2011,” paying attention to how revenues and expenditures are presented in a budget for a fiscal year.
Review the “Sources of Revenue Streams” document located in the Learning Resources and use the list as a guide as you complete the Discussion.
Using the Internet locate your local government website and public budget information. Then review revenue streams from your local community.
Select at least three revenue streams a local government might use to fund a police department budget.
Select three possible expenditures in a police department budget.
Consider how the expenditures you selected might be paid using the revenue streams you selected.

With these thoughts in mind:

Post a description of at least three revenue streams a local government might use to fund a police department budget. Then describe three possible expenditures in the police department budget. Finally, explain how each expenditure might be paid using the revenue streams you described.