Agency Requests, Gubernatorial Support, and Budget Success in State Legislatures Revisited

This study partially replicates and extends Ira Sharkansky's seminal work on state budgeting. The research attempts to assess the budgetary impact of (1) recent executive and legislative reform efforts; (2) changing environmental conditions, especially the intergovernmental environment; and (3) non-general fund revenues (federal revenues and earmarked revenues). The findings indicate that general fund budget behaviors have remained relatively stable, although agencies are more acquisitive and governors and legislatures slightly more generous with their recommendations and appropriations. There is evidence that state legislatures and agencies have assumed a more affirmative role vis-a-vis the governor in general fund budget matters. Moreover, the role of the governor is more dominant among agencies that receive significant amounts of federal and/or earmarked revenues.