Liquidity Management and Cash Flow Forecasts

Office of the State Treasurer

LIQUIDITY MANAGEMENT AND CASH FLOW FORECASTS

Each year the State of Georgia’s budget is approved through the legislative process. The budget is based on the Governor’s revenue estimate of “State Funds” for the upcoming fiscal year. Appropriations to the state entities cannot exceed the revenue estimate set by the Governor. Each month the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget (“OPB”) issues allotments for agencies in accordance with the appropriated budget. The Office of the State Treasurer (“OST”) has developed a Cash Flow Model to ensure that sufficient liquidity is maintained to fund agency allotments as they are presented for payment by agencies. The model is designed to be a dynamic tool and inputs are updated as appropriate to continually project, monitor, and manage cash invested by OST.

At the beginning of each fiscal year, OST uses the monthly revenue estimate provided by OPB and two years of historical spending patterns to create cash flow projections for the fiscal year. Each month during the fiscal year, agencies provide 30, 60, and 90 day projections of their cash needs. OST incorporates actual revenues and disbursements to date together with the 30-60-90 day disbursement projections to update its Cash Flow Model each month. Because agency disbursements are limited to the amount of appropriated allotments for the fiscal year, monthly actual draws are used to adjust the projected disbursements to equal the remaining budget balance for the fiscal year. However, OST modifies monthly revenue estimates only if adjustments are provided by OPB. OST utilizes the Cash Flow Model and agency bank balances to provide reports to OPB to assist it in allotment management decisions.

As described above, OST revises its cash flow projections monthly to maintain an accurate forecast of primary liquidity. OST does not make balance estimates for other treasury investment portfolios but reports actual balances monthly. Below we have posted links to the following: Cash Flow Model and Total State Funds report. These are the only projections available on a statewide basis, and do not represent the GAAP general fund cash balance calculated and reported in the CAFR.

In addition, OST can generate customized reports as needed by OPB in preparation of the Governor’s budget or to adjust for any allotment delays, rescissions, reductions of the Governor’s revenue forecast, or for any other considerations.