Money
Who votes on the money
Federal appropriations start in the U.S. House. State budgets need both legislative chambers and usually a governor. Counties and cities pass their own levies. Mixing those rooms is how voters call the wrong office.
Sep 10, 2026 · 8 min read · WhyIVote civic explainer
Match the dollar to the room
Every public dollar has a vote. The office that holds that vote is the office that can change the program. Campaigns often talk as if one person “controls the budget.” Statutes split it.
Federal money
Revenue bills originate in the U.S. House. Annual appropriations — the 12 regular bills that fund agencies — are written in House and Senate Appropriations Committees, passed by both chambers, and signed by the President.
Mandatory spending (Social Security, much of Medicare, some farm and nutrition programs) is set in authorizing statutes, not the annual appropriations bills. Changing those formulas takes a law, not a single speech.
- Call a U.S. representative or senator about VA hospitals, federal highway formulas, FEMA, IRS, and federal student aid.
- A mayor or state senator cannot appropriate those accounts.
State money
The state budget funds schools, Medicaid the state share, prisons, and aid to local governments. Both legislative chambers vote. The governor proposes, then signs or vetoes.
Federal grants to states show up in the state budget as pass-throughs. The state can often set formula details inside federal guardrails. It cannot rewrite the federal statute.
County and city money
County commissions adopt a county budget and tax levy. City councils do the same for cities. School boards (or the body state law names) adopt school budgets, sometimes subject to voter approval.
Property tax is local. Sales tax may be state, local, or both. Income tax is usually state or federal. If the program is a city park, call the city. If it is a county hospital board, call the commission.
A simple test
Ask: which statute created this program, and which body passes its budget? If you cannot name the body, you are not ready to assign blame or credit. WhyIVote maps concerns to offices so that test is visible before you pick a candidate.
