"This revised and updated edition of Memos to the Governor goes behind governmental fiscal gobbledygook to clearly explain the technical, economic, and political dynamics of budget making. Dall Forsythe untangles the knotty processes of budget preparation and implementation, outlining the budgeting process through a series of memos from a budget director to a newly elected governor - a format that guides the neophyte through the complicated financial processes involved in state governance." "Forsythe covers all of the steps of budget preparation, from strategy to execution, explaining technical vocabulary, and discussing key topics including baseline budgeting, revenue forecasting, and gap-closing options. Memos to the Governor is a practical introduction to budget preparation for students of and practitioners in public administration and public-sector financial management."--BOOK JACKET.