Lecture, three hours; outside study, nine hours. Limited to graduate students. How financial resources are allocated through budget processes at federal, state, and local levels of government in the U.S. and how each level of government finances its operations and capital investment programs, with particular attention to California. Students are organized into small groups to facilitate review of assigned readings and to report key information to class. Based on assigned readings, development of budget strategy matrix outlining best practices budget strategies to use in various resources availability contexts. Letter grading.