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This study examines the relationship between performance information and resource allocations in the context of the George W. Bush administration's performance budgeting metric: the Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART). Results of regression analysis suggest that performance information reported through the PART system had a fragmented and incomplete effect on congressional appropriations. This was because (1) PART was a politicized tool applied more rigorously to cuts in programs supported by Democrats; (2) PART scores had little or no impact on earmarked programs; (3) PART's impact declined during a divided government; and (4) PART scores were used more often in budget decisions for small or medium-size programs than for larger programs.

City managers have been considered as technicians or general managers. However, previous research shows that the roles and leadership of city managers are not limited to management only. Although city managers are appointed by elected officials, elected officials and appointed managers interact with each other in overall government and decision making processes. Additionally, city managers have been actively involved in local policy processes as well. This study attempts to empirically examine city managers’ policy influence and the factors that affect this influence. The study finds that there is a cooperative relationship between city managers and elected officials in policy process.