What does a budget calendar outline?

A budget calendar is a vital tool that outlines the schedule for budget preparation and approval. It serves as a timeline for all the activities related to the budgeting process, including key deadlines for submitting budget requests, reviewing proposed budgets, and final approval of the budget by governing bodies. This structured timeline ensures that all stakeholders are aware of their responsibilities and time frames, contributing to a more organized and efficient budgeting process.

The other options focus on different aspects of budgeting. Rules and regulations for spending pertain to the guidelines that govern how funds can be allocated and used but do not address the scheduling element of the budget process. Financial goals define the targets for financial performance within a specified period, while criteria for evaluating budget effectiveness relate to assessing how well a budget met its intended outcomes, neither of which deals directly with the timetable of budget activities.