Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

Performance budgeting, defined as the general connection between resources and results, has been the holy grail of the U.S. performance management movement for at least 50 years, dating back to the PPBS system in the 1960s. Many other reforms have followed at both the national and state levels. While progress has been made, especially in the supply of performance data and in its use in budget execution, the broader use of evidence in the budgetary process remains elusive. This paper will examine the current state of performance budgeting in the U.S., focusing in detail on the national and state levels. It will describe the trends at these various levels of government, including the progress that has been made to date, lessons learned, and remaining obstacles to realizing the full potential of performance budgeting.