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Indian Programs: Tribal Influence in Formulating Budget Priorities Is Limited

RCED-91-20 Published: Feb 07, 1991. Publicly Released: Feb 07, 1991.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Bureau of Indian Affairs' (BIA) Indian Priority System (IPS) budget formulation process, focusing on the: (1) development and implementation of the IPS process; (2) level of tribal involvement and influence in setting IPS budget priorities; (3) extent to which tribes contracted with BIA to carry out programs; and (4) concerns tribes had regarding the IPS process.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of the Interior The Secretary of the Interior should direct the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs to clarify the purpose of the IPS budget formulation process and the nature of tribal involvement desired in carrying out the process and communicate such clarification to BIA area and agency offices and Indian tribes. In clarifying the process, the Assistant Secretary should address the concerns expressed by tribes relating to the programs subject to the process, such as the retention of funds by area and agency offices for executive direction and administrative services.
Closed – Implemented
The February 1992 report of the Joint Tribal/BIA/Interior Advisory Task Force on BIA Reorganization recommends revising the IPS budget process to increase tribal awareness of and participation in a proposed process called the Tribal Budget System. The new system is intended to address the needs and priorities of tribal governments and includes actions to address the recommendation.

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Topics

Federal fundsFiscal policiesFunds managementIndian affairs legislationIndian landsIntergovernmental fiscal relationsNative AmericansPlanning programming budgetingPrioritizingTrust funds