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reported contacting the legislative fiscal analyst more frequently than the fiscal office director when they
have a specific question regarding an agency’s budget. If the legislators have a more general question
about state finances they are more likely to contact the director. Therefore, analysts are seen as experts
within their area of responsibility.
The Most Useful Types of Budgetary Information
From the analyst perspective, the most useful information provided to legislators is the summary
and analysis of agency requests and, for analysts with this duty, the creation and presentation of budget
recommendations. All but one analyst reported that the analysis of agency requests and the presentation
of budget recommendations is the most useful kind of information for legislators. One of the two analysts
interviewed in Maine reported that fiscal notes are the most useful kind of information provided to
legislators. This analyst commented, “We print them out on office letterhead and the members wave
them around and say ‘this is how much it is going to cost.’”
In all four states, written documents are prepared for members of the fiscal committees regarding
the review of agency budget requests, executive recommendations, and/or budget recommendations.
Analysts in Arizona, Colorado, and Kansas are further responsible for presenting their analysis of agency
requests and/or budget recommendations to legislators. One analyst summed up the importance of the
analysis of agency budget requests by stating, “They [legislators] carry it around, they make notes on it.
It is the thing they start with. If we raise an issue in it, then they almost always bring it up. It sets the
agenda for their debates.” Another analyst stated, “When I am finished with my presentation, it is a
question and answer session by the committee members. It helps them to get a perspective on the agency,
what are they doing now, what have they done in the past.” Likewise, an analyst commented, “The most
useful is the initial analysis of agency requests and executive recommendation and then we respond to
additional requests for information based upon our presentation. We make the initial analysis to the
subcommittee, the legislators don’t look at the executive budget itself, it is too lengthy. So our analysis is
the main document that they use to make decisions.”
Convention