Abstract

This research  aims to reform the Iraqi public budget through going into the challenges the budget faces in applying item-line budget in its preparation, implementation and control; which encourage extravagance and waste instead of rationalizing expenditures. This  is shown in the data analysis of Federal public budget laws in Iraq for the years from 2005 till 2013; there was a continuous increase in the aggregate public expenditures in the public budget for the years previously mentioned, as the public expenditures growth has reached into the percent 284.71% in 2013. In addition the public budget for these years (2005-2013) is being prepared with planned deficit without confirming that the achievement of the objectives set by the government and the programs promised to perform and have allocated funds for them in the public budget.

Depending on previously mentioned, a suggestive framework for reform is stated by determining prospective development course the adoption of performance and programs budget in away fits the non profit government units environment in Iraq, and the development involves three main aspects that are legislative, procedural, and accounting aspects, the whole aspects are developed toward depending on performance and programs budget in preparing, implementing and controlling the public budget, for the benefits achieved that reflect positively on public budget through rationalizing expenditure and achieving accountability of the government about programs and the objectives that the government promised to perform and has allocated funds for them in the public budget.                

The research has reached into the most important conclusions that are:

1-Using the item- line budget in preparing, implementing and controlling the public budget will reduce its effectiveness and efficiency in using the public funds, and reduce the opportunities of improving its performance because it encourages expenditures increase instead of decreasing them.

2-The performance and programs budget falls in the reform attempts that aim for changing traditional view of using public funds, that is to be related with the efficiency of presenting services instead of the ways used to present services.

The research finally has come into the most important recommendations that are the necessity of adopting the performance and programs budget preparing the public budget for its advantages like providing explanatory and clear view about the related expenditures programs and activities for the units management. Also depending on performance and programs budget in preparing the public budget for all government units, and to be applied gradually.