Public Sector Governance and Accountability Series: Budgeting and ...

Budget Preparation and Approval 265
TABLE 8.1
Morocco: Annual Budget Preparation Calendar
Schedule Activity Legal basis
January 1 The fiscal year begins. Organic budget law
January–April The Ministry of Finance constructs a Administrative
macroeconomic framework and prepares circulars
budget aggregates.
May 1 The minister of finance presents to the Decree of
government council the outline for the April 26,1999
draft budget law of the following year.
May Line ministries receive written policy guidelines Decree of
and the budget circular, signed by the prime April 26, 1999
minister, which describe the fiscal strategy
(deficit, revenue, debt); establish the terms
on which the ministries must prepare their
budget proposals; and give the expenditure
ceilings that are binding on each ministry.
May–July Ministries prepare their budget proposals.
The Ministry of Finance may revise the
macroeconomic and budgetary framework.
July 1 Line ministries submit their draft budgets Decree of
to the Ministry of Finance. April 26, 1999
July 1–October 21 Budget negotiations take place between Administrative
the Ministry of Finance and line ministries. circulars
Arbitration by the prime minister takes
place (if needed). The Ministry of Finance
(budget directorate) prepares the draft
budget law and its annexes. The council
of ministers adopts the draft budget.
October 21 The draft budget law is deposited with one of Organic budget
(70 days before the two chambers of the Morocco Parliament, law
the end of together with its annexes.The first chamber
the year) has 30 days in which to issue its decision.
November 21 The draft budget law is deposited with the Organic budget
(30 days after second chamber, which also has 30 days law
submission to in which to issue a decision.
the Parliament)
Before Formal vote on and promulgation of the budget Organic budget
December 31 law take place. (Should the budget law not be law
be approved by December 31, the government
issues a decree opening the appropriations
needed to cover public service tasks,
essentially based on the draft budget law.)
Sources: IMF 2005; Morocco Ministry of Finance; http://www.finances.gov.ma/LoiDeFinances/Essentiel/
Elaboration/ Preparation.htm; and these legal texts: Loi organique no. 7-98 relative à la loi de finances
(Bulletin officiel no. 4644 du 3 décembre 1998); Décret no. 2-98-401 du 26 avril 1999 relatif à l’élaboration
et à l’exécution des lois de finances.