Financial Management Reform in New Zealand Local Government: A Central Government Initiative or a Response to Local Needs?

Author(s):  
June Pallot
Author(s):  
Walter Kickert

This chapter analyses the fiscal problems of Dutch local government in the 1980s and the way that municipalities handled the fiscal squeeze of that time. It first explores the causes of the 1980s fiscal squeeze, that is, the decrease in municipal revenues (particularly in block-grant funding from central government through the ‘Municipal Fund’) and increase in expenditures, partly as a result of recession. It then describes the local government responses to the fiscal squeeze, that is, what cutback measures were taken and what strategies were employed, and explores the linked reform of the financial management system and adoption of ‘divisionalised business model’ structures. Thirdly, empirical evidence about the causes and effects of Dutch local public management reform is considered. Finally, the chapter discusses the longer-term effects that went beyond management reform, that is, developments in local democracy in the 1990s.


Media Iuris ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Galih Arya Prathama

The increase of regional capacity in managing the needs of Regional Development accompanied by the Delegation of Authority from Central Government to Regional Government, has implications in increasing the need for Development Funds, while the Regions can’t continue to rely on the fulfillment of these needs to the Central Government. In response to this, in implementing Autonomy, the Regions are given additional Authority of Financial Management. Such authority, creates demands for the Regions to be creative and focused in achieving the Government Goals that have been established.,As an effort to execute duties and functions of Regional Government in the form of Regional Financial Management, then a region must be able to recognize the potential and explore all the resources it has. Local Government is expected to dig deeper related to the potential derived from its own financial resources, especially in order to meet the needs of government financing and development in the region, one of them through Local Own Revenue as one of the main sources of Regional Financial Reception. Independence of Local Own Revenue for a Regional Government, giving positive support to the ability of the region in meeting the needs to build the region. Thus, the greater source of income derived from the potential owned by a region, the more freely the area can accommodate the needs of community without the interest of Central Government which is not in accordance with the needs of people in the region.


Yurispruden ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 208
Author(s):  
Fahrul Abrori

 ABSTRAKPandemi Covid-19 yang terjadi di Indonesia membuat pemerintah membuat kebijakan-kebijakan sebagai stimulus untuk menjaga kestabilan masyarakat dan perekonomian. Pemerintah pusat memberikan kewenangan kepada pemerintah daerah untuk mengelola keuangan daerah untuk menangani covid-19 di daerah masing-masing. Hal ini disebabkan karena pemerintah daerah lebih memahami kebutuhan daerahnya. Permasalahan yang diangkat Pertama, bagaimana hubungan Pemerintah Pusat dan Pemerintah Daerah dalam pengelolaan keuangan untuk penanganan pandemi Covid-19? Kedua, Apa peran Pemerintah Daerah dalam pengelolaan keuangan daerah untuk penanganan pandemi Covid-19? Menggunakan metode penelitian yuridis normatif dengan pendekatan perundang-undangan dan pendekatan konsep. Hubungan Pemerintah Pusat dan Pemerintah Daerah dalam Pengelolaan Keuangan untuk Penanganan Pandemi Covid-19 yaitu desentralisasi fiskal yang mana. Peran Pemerintah Daerah dalam Pengelolaan Keuangan Daerah untuk Penanganan Pandemi Covid-19 yaitu dengan melakukan refocusing kegiatan, realokasi anggaran, dan Penggunaan Anggaran Pendapatan dan Belanja Daerah.Kata kunci: Pemerintah Daerah, Pengelolaan Keuangan Daerah, Pandemi Covid-19 ABSTRACTThe Covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia led the government to make policies as a stimulus to maintain the stability of society and the economy. The central government authorizes local governments to manage local finances to deal with covid-19 in their respective regions. This is because the local government better understands the needs of the region. The issue raised first, how is the relationship between the Central Government and Local Government in financial management for the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic? Second, What is the role of local governments in regional financial management for the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic? Using normative juridical research methods with statutory approaches and concept approaches. The relationship between the Central Government and Local Government in Financial Management for the Handling of the Covid-19 Pandemic is fiscal decentralization. The role of local governments in regional financial management for the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic is by refocusing activities, reallocating budgets, and using regional budgets.Keywords: Local Government, Regional Financial Management, Covid-19 Pandemic


Author(s):  
Christine Cheyne

Since 2000 intergovernmental relations in New Zealand have been evolving rapidly as a result of a significant shift in government policy discourse towards a strong central-local government partnership. New statutory provisions empowering local government to promote social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing have significant implications for the range of activities in which local authorities are engaged. In turn, this has consequences for the relationship between local government and central government. The effectiveness of the new empowerment and the prospects for further strengthening of the role of local government are critically examined. Despite some on-going tensions, and an inevitable mismatch in the balance of power between central and local government, it is argued that there is a discernible rebalancing of intergovernmental relations as a result of new legislation and central government policy settings which reflect a ‘localist turn’. On the basis of developments since 2000 it may be argued that the New Zealand system of local government is evolving away from the recognised ‘Anglo’ model. However, further consolidation is needed in the transformation of intergovernmental relations and mechanisms that will cement a more genuine central-local government partnership.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham Sansom

Localism is widely supported as an antidote to what are seen as the adverse impacts of globalisation and one-size-fits-all, top-down central government. But interpretations of localism and views on how it should be practised vary greatly. This presents particular challenges for local government, which typically sees itself as the rightful beneficiary of a localism agenda focused on devolution and decentralisation, but must then confront difficult questions about its own institutional frameworks, its revenue base, and sharing power with local communities. While local government in New Zealand is exploring these issues through a national Localism project, its counterparts in Australia seem ill-prepared to follow suit.


Author(s):  
Andy Asquith ◽  
Karen Webster ◽  
Andrew Cardow

Within a global context, local government in New Zealand occupies an enviable position: it enjoys both a statutorily-defined ‘power of general competence’ and financial autonomy from central government. However, despite this, voter turnout rates in New Zealand local elections continue to fall as ever fewer New Zealanders engage in this fundamental act of civic engagement. This review article examines the decline in voting over the last four New Zealand local government elections (2010/13/16/19). It aims to do three things: plot the decline; identify and analyse the causes of this decline; and suggest ways in which the decline might be countered. The authors reach the conclusion that local government in New Zealand is at a crossroads – it will either be rejuvenated as a source of local democracy and prosper, or decline into an administrative arm of central government.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronika Vakulenko

PurposeThe purpose is to explore the role of international financial institutions (IFIs) during public financial management reform in a transitional economy. In particular, the study focuses on interaction between external enablers and local actors.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on a qualitative study of public financial management reform in Ukraine during 1991–2014. This period is divided into stages corresponding with two projects financed by the World Bank: “Treasury System” and “Public Finance Modernization.”FindingsFirst, IFIs supported a Ukrainian economy weakened by financial crisis and insisted on a comprehensive reform of public financial management to facilitate recovery. By strategically addressing local challenges, eliminating local uncertainties and maintaining stable interactions, IFIs gained support from the central government. Local actors continued the reform by negotiating with other actors and getting quorum support. In the second stage, IFIs could not implement planned changes. Even though the change was well-perceived at the beginning, developed tensions between local actors were overlooked by IFIs, which resulted in loss of commitment of the State Treasury representatives. The continuous political instability in Ukraine constrained interaction between IFIs and the Ministry of Finance and reduced political will for conducting reforms.Originality/valueThe study contributes to the debate on the adequacy of externally driven public management reforms in developing countries by exploring actions and interactions of global and local actors during the change in public sector practices.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 40-49
Author(s):  
Jacek Stasiak

The aim of this article is to present task-based budgeting as a new method of public finance management: from the central budget to the budgets of the lowest level. Particular attention was paid to the aims and objectives of the budget, as well as to its performance indicators. The publication is theoretical in nature and deals with the analysis of targeted budgeting with regard to public finance, especially in the context of the central government budget.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Mubashir Mukhtar

<p>The reintroduction of community well-being as a purpose, into the Local Government Act 2002, has created the opportunity for the Councils to engage with their communities in a more holistic way. Although the Councils are consulting within their jurisdictions, this is currently more focused on the core services delivered or assets managed by them. With the community well-being framework in place, the Councils will be able to monitor the developments within their communities from a social, economic, environmental, and cultural perspective. It will enable them to participate on the ground level and to raise the volume with the central government agencies on what matters most for their communities. </p> <p>The enabling factor for this conversation to happen is sitting with the extensiveness of community engagement from the Council side. Through these engagements, the Councils will be able to identify and prioritise the outcomes which their communities’ value. These outcomes will be impacting on the Council business as to what and how they will deliver the core services. </p> <p>In this thesis, we will be looking into the history and role of community well-being in the Local Government Act 2002, and its evolution into the Local Government (Community Well-being) Amendment Act 2019. Along with it, we intend to identify a framework and a set of indicators on community well-being which are common across the local government sector. </p> <p>This research will primarily help the staff members of the Councils to grasp the dynamics of community well-being and to incorporate it in their various strategic plans and reports. Secondly, it will help the community organisations and contractors to work more closely with the Councils and see how they can have a more positive impact on their communities. Thirdly, this piece will seek to align the well-being work of the local government sector with the work currently undergoing at the central government level; specifically, the Living Standards Framework (LSF) at The Treasury and Indicators Aotearoa New Zealand (IANZ) at Statistics New Zealand.</p>


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