President Trump released his FY 2018 budget proposal on March 16. Overall, the budget proposes to increase defense spending by $54 billion and reduce non-defense discretionary spending by an equal amount.
NACo issued an analysis of the proposed budget’s effects on counties on March 20. As noted in NACo’s analysis, the Administration’s proposal, nicknamed the “skinny” budget because, as is traditional for newly-elected presidents, it does not include details of tax revenue or mandatory spending that will be included in the more comprehensive document to be released later in the year, is the first step in the FY 2018 federal budget process.
Traditionally, after receiving the President’s budget proposal, Congress will work to pass its own budget resolution, setting top-line numbers, and then will pass individual appropriations bills to set spending levels for programs within the limits set by the budget resolution.
However, this year, Congress must first address appropriations for the remainder of federal FY 2017, which ends on September 30. Currently, the federal government is operating under funding levels set by a Continuing Resolution, which expires on April 28.
NACo’s analysis, “Major changes for counties under Trump budget,” is available on its website.
VACo Contact: Katie Boyle