Use the first three weeks of the course to “Window Shop” for an Adopted Budget Document and to select a budget document for your case study by the end of the third week of the course. “Window Shopping” means that you will review at least three separate Adopted Budget Documents. By comparing and contrasting these budget documents you will get a sense of the quality of the documents and be better able to choose a quality budget document for your case study.

1.An example of a suitable budget document is the: City of Burbank Adopted Budget (Links to an external site.)( https://www.burbankca.gov/web/financial-services/budget ). Remember, the case study is not applied to the entire city, but to a program area. For example, you might focus on the: Police Department (Links to an external site.). Within the Police Department you will choose to analyze one of the program areas such the Patrol Division.

2.When you review a budget document, familiarize yourself with the: Budget Message and/or Transmittal Letter. Also review the: summary reports and (Links to an external site.)documents at the beginning of the budget document and Revenues (Links to an external site.). And of course the department and program area that will be the focus of your case study.

3.Submit a Word Document listing three local government adopted budgets that you reviewed. Please include a hyperlink to the budget document and identify the program area and/or department you are considering for the budget analysis portion of the case study. Please also include the page numbers for the program area and/or department you are considering. You may also include a hyperlink to the program area if that is possible