A chief financial officer (CFO) is responsible for overall financial management in justice or security. The CFO oversees disbursements, accountability processes, and operational planning, budgeting, and analysis.

STEP 1: Imagine you are the CFO for criminal justice or a private security agency in your home state. You are tasked with developing and presenting an operating budget proposal to your agency director. Your starting point for the operating budget is the current year. You will then build an operating budget for the next year.

STEP 2: Selecta state, local criminal justice, or security agency from Texas.

STEP 3: Research the most recent budget for that agency. Use the resource at the end of the assignment as an example of an operating budget and how to search for one online.

STEP 4 Write a budget proposal that contains operating expenses and revenue.

Include the following in your proposal:

• Your total budget, including operating expenses and revenue. This can increase or decrease by 5 percent.

• The total for your operating budget and special line items. If you include the special line items, they must equal the total of all your revenue sources, which is called a balanced budget. There should be no deficit or surplus budgeting.

• Increase or decrease any expenditure or fund source you like. Any increase or decrease should be related to the issues you list in your summary.

• Base your budget adjustments and issues on actual concerns your home state or local jurisdiction is experiencing.