Budsjettnmål

Budsjettnmål, commonly translated as budget targets, are the specific, quantifiable goals set within a budget cycle to guide spending, revenue planning and resource allocation. They define the intended financial outcome for the period and provide a basis for performance assessment.

Budsjettnmål typically cover revenue targets, expenditure limits by department or function, capital investment ceilings, savings or contingency reserves, liquidity requirements, and, in some cases, non-financial targets linked to efficiency or service levels. They translate strategic aims into concrete numbers that guide day-to-day decisions and prioritization.

Development usually involves the finance or budgeting unit, with input from department heads and senior leadership. Targets are aligned with the organization’s strategic plan, external constraints, and multi-year forecasts. The process often culminates in approval by the relevant governing body, commonly for an annual horizon, though some systems extend planning to three to five years.

During the year, actual results are compared with budsjettnmål; variances are analyzed to explain deviations and to inform reforecasting, priority adjustments, or corrective actions. The targets support accountability and help communicate priorities to stakeholders, while also serving as a management tool to steer operations toward planned outcomes.

Budsjettnmål are widely used in public finance and in many private organizations as part of strategic budgeting and performance management. They require reliable forecasting and institutional flexibility to adapt to changing economic conditions, policy directions, or operational realities.

See also: budgeting, financial planning, performance budgeting.