Some key elements to included in stories on budget adoptions:
- Amount to be spent.
- New or increased taxes, higher license and permit fees and other income that will be necessary to meet expenditures.
- Cuts, if any, to be made in such taxes, fees or fines.
- Comparison with preceding year(s).
- Justification for increases sought, cuts made.
- Rate of current spending, under or over budget of previous year.
- Patterns behind the submission and subsequent adjustments, such as political motives, pressure groups,
history.
- Consequences of budget for: agencies, departments, businesses, the public.