Budget cycles

Government budgets follow strict annual cycles that determine when and how money can be spent. This timing affects everything from project planning to resource availability.

Key budget considerations include:

• The fiscal year: How the government divides and plans spending periods. While fiscal year dates vary by country, many governments set a consistent 12-month cycle to organize budgeting and spending.
• Planning windows: Times when departments submit budgets for next year's projects
• Spending deadlines: Critical dates when allocated money must be used or returned
• Resource limitations: Restrictions on how different types of funds can be used

Budget management requires careful timing and documentation. Understanding these cycles helps plan projects around available funding windows.

Project timelines must align with budget availability. Starting work at the wrong time might mean waiting months for new funding, even when the work is urgent.