talousarviot

Talousarviot are budgets that outline the expected income and expenditures for a defined period, usually one fiscal year, for a government body, municipality, or organization. They function as planning and control instruments, translating policy goals into financial terms and defining how public resources should be allocated and used. The budget typically consists of an operating budget and a capital or investment budget. The operating budget covers day-to-day services and personnel costs, while the capital budget funds investments such as infrastructure or equipment. Revenues may include taxes, subsidies, service charges, and other income; expenditures cover programs, administration, debt service, and transfers to other units. The budget also shows financing decisions, such as borrowing and repayments, and aims to produce a balanced or acceptable surplus or deficit.

The budgeting process usually includes preparation by line departments, consolidation by a central financial unit, approval by the elected body or senior management, and then monitoring and reporting during the budget year with revisions if necessary. Talousarviot serve as a benchmark for performance, provide transparency to citizens, and guide financial management, while they are inherently estimates and subject to adjustments as conditions change. In Finnish public administration and many organizations, talousarviot are complemented by longer-term financial plans or strategic budgets, and by annual financial statements or tilinpäätös that compare actual results with the plan.