HomeDefinitionsCompareDebt Budget authorityThe financial definition for Budget authority:Broad responsibility by Congress that government agencies have the power to spend federal funds. Congress can specify criteria for the spending of these funds. For example, it may stipulate that a given agency must spend within a specific year, number of years, or any time in the future. The basic forms of budget authority are; appropriations, authority to borrow, contract authority, and authority to obligate and expend offsetting receipts and collections. The period of time during which Congress makes funds available may be specified as one-year, multiple years or no year. The available amount may be classified as either definite or indefinite; a specific amount or an unspecified amount can be made available. Authority may also be classified as current or permanent. Permanent authority requires no current action by Congress. Similar MatchesAuthority bondAuthority bondA bond issued by a government agency or a corporation created to manage a revenue-producing public enterprise. The difference between an authority bond and a municipal bond is that margin protections may be incorporated in the authority bond contract as well as in the legislation that enables the authority. Public housing authority bondPublic housing authority bondBonds of local public housing agencies that are secured by the federal government and whose proceeds are used to provide low-rent housing. Click to compare definitions of Budget authority Click to view definitions beginning bu |