6300     DEVELOPMENT AND ENACTMENT OF THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL PLAN, THE PROCESS IN BRIEF  
(Revised 2/98)

The annual financial plan consists of the Governor's Budget and Budget Bill, special appropriation bills, and other bills with fiscal or program impact as they are enacted by the Legislature and initiatives.

The Governor has complete and final responsibility for "the Governor's Budget."  However, the budget is actually a product of the entire executive branch.  Although the constitutional officers and the segments of higher education have a certain level of autonomy, the Governor typically requests their cooperation in seeking and establishing the fiscal policies of the Administration.  Decisions, small and large, must be made by many persons.  While legislative and administrative heads make crucial decisions on specific questions raised by the budget process, they are largely dependent on information presented to them.  It is essential therefore that everyone involved in the preparation of the budget try to create a meaningful, well developed and fully justified plan and not expect the budget review process of the Administration to accomplish an impossible task for which it is not designed.