The problem of a £million under spend is almost as bad as a £million overspend. Will they let us carry over the underspend? No.We have to be corporate. Will they make us carry over the £million overspend? Yes. We have to budget better!
The boss was known to make a drama out of a crisis and a £million overspend is a crisis. The budget problem is psychological as much as financial. In business managing such a large budget (£100 million ) within 1% would be success. But in local government the figure of a £million overspend is a banner headline in the local paper and the first item in the local talk radio show.
Want full article access?
Receive The MJ magazine each week and gain access to all the content on this website with a subscription.
Full website content includes additional, exclusive commentary and analysis on the issues affecting local government.
Already a subscriber? Login