§ 1300.9 - Budget development and execution.

(a) Sixteen months preceding the beginning of the fiscal year to which the budget applies (for example, by June 1, 1989 for the FY 1991 budget), RFE/RL shall propose to the BIB the financial assumptions to be used in determining the base budget level and highlight desired enhancements or reductions. This proposal should be in writing, followed by a verbal discussion at the staff level. The Chairman's approval is required of the financial assumptions and any proposed enhancements or reductions.

(b) The budget presentation specified in paragraph (a) of this section shall be consistent with guidelines presented to RFE/RL by the BIB, based on the ceiling established by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

(c) Based on the BIB guidelines, the OMB ceiling, and the budget decisions resulting from the presentation specified in paragraph (a) of this section RFE/RL shall submit to the BIB a formal budget request no later than August 1 of each year, and the BIB shall arrange for RFE/RL to present its budget to the Chairman and to members of the BIB, as appropriate. Final decisions by the Board shall be communicated to RFE/RL which shall revise the budget request accordingly.

(d) The BIB shall present the budget to OMB for approval and subsequently to the authorization and appropriations committees of Congress. In making such presentations, representatives of the BIB will be accompanied when feasible by the President of RFE/RL or his designee, and any additional RFE/RL staff as requested.

(e) Expenditures during a fiscal year by RFE/RL shall correspond to the final budget as approved by the Congress. On or before October 1 of each year, RFE/RL shall submit to BIB a fiscal year financial plan which provides on a monthly basis projected expenditures by object class for each of its programs and activities.

(1) For each object class line item of more than $250,000 in RFE/RL's financial plan, any reprogramming of funds in excess of $250,000, or 10% of the budgeted amount for that item, whichever is less, shall require prior approval of the BIB. In this event, RFE/RL shall submit a request for reprogramming authority or a plan for offsetting the deviation in succeeding fiscal quarters.

(2) Quarterly financial reports to the BIB shall indicate all object class line item expenditures which deviated from the budgeted amount by more than $250,000 or 10% of the budgeted amount, whichever is less, and will include an explanation for the deviations.