Assessment of the Influence of Selected Procurement Practices on the Performance of Devolved Government Units in Kenya: A Case of Machakos County Government

In the devolved units in Kenya, despite the formulation of strategic plans, majority of the counties remain underdeveloped with the employees remaining reluctant thus citizens’ demand for better services remain un met. The devolved systems of governments in Kenya have also been experiencing major challenges in the execution of procurement practices. Counties continue to be criticized for corruption cases, stalled projects, under-development and massive wastage of public resources. All these aspects have been strongly linked to weak procurement management practices which raises concern. The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of contract management practices and procurement policies practices, on performance of Machakos County government. The methodology was descriptive research design that guided the study. The study was carried out in County government offices. The target population and unit of observations was 77 employees in procurement department in Machakos County comprising of senior managers and procurement employees, head of other departments as well budget committee members who were selected using a purposeful sampling approach. Data for the study was collected using questionnaires which were self-administered. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential analysis using SPSS version 24. Tables and figures were used in presenting the data. The study found out that Contract Monitoring and, Procurement policies had a positive influence on the performance of Machakos County. The study also concluded that for Machakos County to perform, the procurement department must be able to properly implement, monitor and evaluate these practices. The study recommends that the management of the county to improve on the level of compliance with procurement regulations compliance.

Critical Reflections on Fund Distribution in Malaysian Schools

The objective of this study is to provide critical reflections on teachers’ awareness and participation in sourcing and allocating funds for school operations in Malaysia. A survey of 118 teachers was conducted to obtain the teachers’ perspectives on the funding process. The perspectives were used as basis for critical reflections on the funding process in Malaysian schools. A theoretical framework comprising of stakeholder and intellectual capital theories was adopted to interpret the perspectives of the teachers. The survey revealed that only 9.3% (11/118) of the teachers had ample knowledge of the funding process, 32.2% (38 / 118) had very little knowledge and the remaining 58.47% (69) had no knowledge of the process. The survey also show that teachers and school administrators lack understanding of the central government's policies on fund allocation to schools. The majority of the respondents agree that knowledge of sources and application of funds will help teachers to construct instructional planning that would enhance teaching and learning. The teachers believe that improvements at each of the school's preliminary meetings as well as the school budget committee meeting should be presented to encourage teachers to plan their annual lesson plans by incorporating elements of creativity and innovation in their teaching and learning process. The theoretical implication of our study highlights that teachers being one of the key stakeholders contribute to the intellectual capital, which is a key feature financial management and accountability of source and application of school funds. Hence, we argue that developments in teachers’ awareness and participation in the funding process would enhance the core intellectual capital of schools.

A Progressive Approach to Budgeting under Musgrove

Chapter 7 discusses Governor Ronny Musgrove, a former member of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC), who was familiar with the budget making process. This chapter shows how Musgrove was successful in getting more funding for total education (especially K – 12) although he had a less than ideal relationship with the legislature. The constant disputes between the legislature and Musgrove resulted in the legislature overriding 47 of the 58 gubernatorial vetoes in one legislative session (2001 legislative session). Former Musgrove ally, Speaker Tim Ford, attributed the governor’s lack of fiscal success to his lack of communication with the legislature.

Legislative Power Weakened

This chapter explains how legislative power was weakened after the courts agreed with Attorney General Bill Allain that it was unconstitutional for legislators to serve on executive boards and commissions. This chapter discusses the most important separation of powers case in the state’s history, Alexander v. State of Mississippi by and Through Allain (1983). The court decision in the Alexander case resulted in the passage of the Mississippi Administrative Reorganization Act of 1984, which created a new budget making process. The reorganization act created the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) and the Fiscal Management Board (FMB).

Pursuing Medicaid Block Grants with the Healthy Adult Opportunity Initiative: Dressing Up Old Ideas in New Clothes

The Trump administration’s “Healthy Adult Opportunity” waiver follows a long history of Republican attempts to retrench the Medicaid program through block grants and to markedly reduce federal spending while providing states with substantially greater flexibility over program structure. Previous block grant proposals were promulgated under the presidential administrations of Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, and congressional majorities in Congress, led by House Speaker Newt Gingrich and the House Budget Committee and then Speaker Paul Ryan. Most recently, Medicaid block grants featured prominently in Republican efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. This essay traces the history of Republican Medicaid block grant proposals, culminating in the Trump Administration’s Healthy Adult Opportunity initiative. It concludes that the Trump administration’s attempt to convert Medicaid into a block grant program through the waiver process is illegal and, if implemented, would leave thousands of people without necessary medical care. This fact, combined with failed legislative efforts to block grant Medicaid over the last forty years, highlights the substantial roadblocks to radically restructuring a popular program that helps millions of Americans.

Features of financing NATO's armed forces

The aim of the article is to investigate the peculiarities of financing NATO's armed forces. The following methods were used in the study process: comparative analysis method, correlation analysis, content analysis. The current state of defense financing in the world and in NATO countries has been clarified. Sources of funding for civilian and military budgets and NATO security investment programs are highlighted. The civilian budget covers staff costs, operational costs, capital expenditures and expenses for the International Secretariat's programs at NATO Headquarters. The military budget covers the costs of operating and maintaining the structure of NATO military management bodies. The procedure for the payment of direct and indirect contributions to NATO content by the Allies is disclosed. The tasks of the bodies responsible for financial control over the formation and use of NATO finances are described: the North Atlantic Council, the Resource Policy and Planning Council, the Budget Committee, the Investment Committee, the NATO Independent International Audit Board. Shares of financing of civilian and military budgets, as well as NATO programs by NATO member countries, the ratio of defense expenditures to GDP in NATO countries, the share of capital expenditures in the structure of defense expenditures of NATO countries are analyzed. The volumes and structure of defense financing expenditures in Ukraine are compared with NATO countries. It is revealed that during 2014-2018 Ukraine significantly increased the amount of defense financing, at the same time the share of capital expenditures in the structure of defense spending in Ukraine remains insignificant. It is proposed to increase the share of expenditures on military investments and innovations, purchase of armaments and military equipment, construction of military facilities and, at the same time, limit the share of current expenditures on the maintenance of the armed forces.