Proposed Biennial Budget

Congress has periodically expressed interest in converting the Fed. budget process from an annual to a biennial cycle (BC). However, proposals to move to a BC raise a number of concerns. Both opponents and proponents of a BC have used states' experiences to support their positions. Currently, 23 states have all or part of their budget on a BC. This report studies the BC process of Arizona, Connecticut, and Ohio in detail. It examines how: (1) Arizona and Connecticut implemented their transition from an annual to a BC; (2) each of the 3 states budgets in the off year of its cycle, and (3) each of the states incorporates legislative oversight and program evaluation into its BC. Charts and tables.