Summary: A program or project is considered to be fully funded if the budget authority requested and made available is for the total cost of that program to be initiated in the budget year. A study was undertaken of multiyear programs whether or not obligations for the entire program were made at one time.
To be considered for conversion to full funding, a program or project should: be a discrete, multiyear program with a planned completion date; be subject to total cost estimating; not be subject to changes in design that would affect funding levels significantly; and be a commitment to the extent that there is clear evidence that the Government intends to fund the program to completion. Factors to be considered for full funding involve diminished control by the Congress over outlays, fluctuation of budget estimates, and increases in unobligated balances. Full funding is usually thought of as being applicable mainly to major construction and procurement. Other categories with programs that could possibly be considered for full funding include research and development, subsidies, and social-type programs. Areas deserving special attention are land acquisition, ADP leases and purchases, grants for construction of transit systems, programs with total dollar limitations, grant programs for phased construction, pension type programs, and revolving funds. Two possibilities for the availability of funds are no-year authority and multiyear authority. A list of 60 accounts with potential for conversion to full funding is included. (RRS)
