DISCRETIONARY SPENDING Definition

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DISCRETIONARY SPENDING consists of US government expenditures that are set on an annual basis. It is a budget that members of Congress can adjust on a yearly basis. Examples of discretionary spending in the United States:

-defense budget
-education
-Environmental Protection Agency
-Department of Veterans Affairs

When looking to cut costs, lawmakers usually look to trimming discretionary spending. See MANDATORY SPENDING.

Learn new Accounting Terms

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE (GAO) is the organization in the U.S. Congress that investigates the performance of the federal government. GAO evaluates the use of public funds and the performance of federal programs, while also providing analytical, investigative and legal services in order to support to Congress in its policy formulation and decision making processes. Most GAO reports are initiated at the request of Congress, while some are initiated by the agency itself or are required by law.

ASSESSED VALUE is the estimated value of property used for tax purposes.

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