IFSTA: Admin (Ch 27)

Question 1

Budgets: 3 functions for government

Answer 1

• Describe and identify the relationship between different tasks
• Provide assistance in the decision-making process
• Clarify political power

Question 2

Budget systems

Answer 2

General format to which budget process conforms

• Line-item budgeting (most common)
• Zero-based budgeting (zero each item, justify)
• Matrix budgeting
• Program budgeting
• Performance budgeting
• Planning programming budgeting

Question 3

Budget types

Answer 3

• Capital
  
  • Items > certain amount
  • Items expected to last more than one year
• Operating

Question 4

Reasons for separating capital and operating budgets

Answer 4

• Funding: one-time earmarked funds vs. general revenue sources (taxes)
• Decision-making process: Capital budgets rank project priorities while operating budgets don’t.
• Planning and implementation time frame
  
  • Capital = longer development time
  • Operating = 6 month development

Question 5

Budget cycle phases

Answer 5

1. Budget formulation (4-6 months prior)
2. Budget enactment (adoption)
3. Budget execution
4. Budget auditing and assessment

Question 6

Funding sources

Answer 6

• Taxes (sales, income, levy, fees)
• Trust funds
• Enterprise funds
• Restricted funds
• Sinking funds
• Bond sales
• Grants (government, NGO, block)
• Foundations
• Fund-raisers

Question 7

Budget process: 6 steps

Answer 7

1. Planning
2. Preparation
3. Implementation
4. Monitoring
5. Evaluating
6. Revising

Question 8

Budget request: justification sources

Answer 8

• Organizational financial history
• Market studies
• Actual equipment, material, service costs
• Performance data
• Government economic reports
• Insurance information
• Government mandates
• Contractual requirements

Question 9

Procurement steps

Answer 9

• Determine need
• Conduct research on equipment, manufacturers, standards/regulations
• Evaluate and field-test
• Review product data
• Conduct puchasing process
• Conduct acceptance procedures

Question 10

NFPA 1021: madate re: policy making

Answer 10

The Fire Officer II must have the ability to identify a problem, determine the apprpriate solution, and develo a policy or procedure that will rectify the problem.

Question 11

Steps for determining need for policy/procedure

Answer 11

1. Identify problem
2. Collect data to evaluate the need
3. Select the evaluation model (goals, process, or outcome-based)
4. Establish timetable for making the needs evaluation
5. Conduct the evaluation
6. Select the best response to the need
7. Select alternative responses
8. Establish a revision process or schedule
9. Recommend the policy/procedure that best meets the need

Question 12

Budget preparation: steps

Answer 12

• Budget requests
• Funding requests
• Justification
• Internal review
• External review

Question 13

Budget: methods of researching equipment/materials

Answer 13

• Survey other jurisdictions
• Review manufacturer’s buisiness histories
• Request references
• Review industry trends
• Compare various products
• Determine equipment compatibility
• Revew purchasing ordinanaces and laws
• Develop RFP’s

Question 14

Steps in purchasing process

Answer 14

1. Determine funds available and source
2. Create bid spec’s based on evaluation process
3. Evaluate certified bids
4. Score the bids
5. Award the purchase contract