Title

The Fund Balance Conundrum: An Ethical Perspective

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-17-2013

Publication Title

Administration and Society

Abstract

Researchers have recently taken an interest in the accumulation and use of fund balances by local governments. Nevertheless, there is no consensus on the ideal percentage of savings governments should maintain to deal with unforeseen circumstances, and indeed little is known about the level of savings set aside by local governments. This situation raises questions about ethical and financial management practices of officials. This article discusses budgetary transparency through the lenses of utilitarian and Kantian ethical perspectives and examines three case studies that highlight the financial and political risks associated with the lack of transparency and the misuse of funds.

Volume

47

Issue

8

First Page

915

Last Page

942

DOI

10.1177/0095399713490155

ISSN

15523039

Comments

Stewart, LaShonda M., R. W. Hildreth, and Kwame Badu Antwi-Boasiako. “The Fund Balance Conundrum: An Ethical Perspective.” Administration & Society 47, no. 8 (October 2015): 915–42. https://doi.org/10.1177/0095399713490155.

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