Search

While the number of women in government has increased, prior research on whether enhancing women's political representation alters policy choices has produced inconclusive findings. This study asks if higher women's participation in electoral institutions at the local level is associated with a different spending profile. Using Peterson's typology of developmental, redistributive, and allocational government programs, we argue that legislative bodies with more female members will spend more on redistributive programs than on developmental or allocational. Using data from Florida's 67 counties between 2005 and 2015, our analysis supports this theoretical expectation. In line with critical mass theory, women's representation in county commissions must reach a threshold of about 33% to sway budgetary decision-making toward more extensive redistribution. We also find that the traditional commission form of government intensifies the redistributive effect of women commissioners on county spending while having a home rule charter has no significant effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Written in a conversational exchange, this essay charts urgent connections among queer/trans/disability frameworks of environmental, climate, and reproductive justice centered around community planning and county level democratic politics. We reflect on the lessons learned in our local context of Iowa between 2023–2024, during unprecedented legislative control of queer and trans lives and reproductive politics. In our conversation, we argue anti-trans legislation is a form of authoritarianism and political violence, a frame which shifts how organizers might draw connections among issues and energize future struggles. We reflect on the organizing strategies and advocacy work in our community and connect this labor as crucial care work necessary for queer and trans life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of budget control on delivery of capital project delivery in Samburu County-Kenya. Methodology: This study examined the effect of budget control procedures on the completion of capital projects using a descriptive research design. A total of 52 employees who were department heads and routinely took part in the budgeting process, belonging to the J, K, and L job groups, comprise the research sample. To effectively represent the intricate dynamics at work and to offer insightful information about how budget control affects the efficacy and efficiency of capital project delivery within the framework of the Samburu County Government, data was provided in linear regression models. Findings: The findings of this study can assist county governments in better understanding the factors that affect county budget management systems and performance as well as what needs to be changed to enhance the aforementioned budget performance. The findings can also be helpful to academics while looking into how budgetary control affects the provision of public services. Finally, it may offer politicians and other decision-makers new insights into the delivery of capital projects and the management of public resources. The study's results demonstrated that budget control significantly impacted capital project delivery in Samburu County, accounting for 77.3% of the variance with P < 0.05. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study investigated how capital project delivery and budget control interact using the agency theory. Kenyan county governments and legislators should tighten budget control to address issues. The primary finding of the study was that counties can accomplish their financial and quantitative objectives with the aid of budget control. Additionally, it can help the county meet its goals, identify the operating activity items in the budgets, and fortify the relevant accounting structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main focus of this paper was to examine the influence of public awareness on the Implementation of County Government Development Projects in Turkana North Sub County, Kenya. The paper was anchored on the civic voluntarism theory. The study adopted A descriptive research design, which targeted 30,923 people. A sample of 384 public members was arrived at using the Miller & Brewer formula, and stratified randomly was employed. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Supervisions, intensive literature review, and pre-testing validated the research instruments. The reliability of the instruments was further verified by a pilot study using 10% of the study's sample. The outcome of the pilot study revealed an internal consistency of Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.8476. this coefficient was considered ideal since it was above the threshold of 0.7. Data were analyzed descriptively using SPSS and presented in percentages, frequencies, and tables. The data analysis findings established a significant positive relationship between public awareness and the implementation of funded development projects in Turkana North sub-county, Kenya (R=0.749). Overall, public awareness influenced the implementation of funded development projects by 88.7% (R2 = 88.7%). Therefore, the study recommends that it is vital for the firms assigned to implementing development projects to consider thoroughly fostering public awareness in any project implementation. This enhances project satisfaction, project completion on time, and completion at scheduled cost. These study findings may benefit policymakers, practitioners, and researchers in forming the basis for new knowledge by identifying the knowledge gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The study analyzed the effect of strategic financial controls on project implementation in Selected County Government in Western Kenya. Methodology/Approach: A correlation research design was achieved. There are a total of 72 workers here, including managers, freelancers, and other employees. A pilot study was performed at the Busia County Government to test and verify the efficacy of the research instruments. If the coefficient of the research instruments was greater than 0.7, they were considered suitable for usage. Predetermined questions were used to collect data. The research data was analyzed employing a mix of descriptive and inferential (simple linear regression and correlation) statistics. The data was displayed using tables. Findings: The research benefited county government administration, informed academics in adjacent subjects, added to the existing literature on strategic controls, and sparked more investigation into strategic planning and performance at the county level in Kenya. Specifically, a positive linear relationship was discovered between financial controls and project implementation (R = 0.897). Implications: The research urged that since the importance of fiscal management was highlighted in the study, it was suggested that county governments make funds available to improve county performance.