Finance, Office of Management and Budget

Citizen's Guide to Metro's Performance
Glossary of Terms

A through M

Accountability
The state of being answerable; it is demonstrated by being willing and able to tell taxpayers what they are getting for their money in terms of results.
Accreditation
The process used by a recognized institution, board or professional body to recognize a program of study or institution that is meeting certain predetermined standards.
Abate Notices
Notice sent to individuals and/or businesses as the result of a code violation(s).
Allocation
A part of a lump-sum amount, which is designated for expenditure by specific organization units and/or for special purposes, activities, or objects.
Appropriation
A legal authorization granted by a legislative body (the Council) to make expenditures and to incur obligations for specific purposes. An appropriation is usually limited in amount and as to the time when it may be expended. All Metro general fund appropriations lapse (expire) at the end of each fiscal year, unless legal authorization is provided to carry forward budget availability.
Benchmark
A standard set by the best existing practice, product or service. A standard by which something can be measured or judged. Benchmarking is the process of comparing performance against that of others in an effort to identify areas for improvement.
Bond Rating
A bond rating is the measure of the quality and safety of a bond. It indicates the likelihood that a debt issuer will be able to meet scheduled repayments, and dictates the interest rate paid.  Bonds are rated from AAA or Aaa, the top rating, to D, which means the issuer is currently in default.
Budget Accountability Reports
Monthly budget variance reports that represents various departments and their major funds.  Reports can be viewed and downloaded from the  government website, www.nashville.gov/finance/
Capital Budget
A plan of proposed capital outlays and means of financing them.  Metro’s Capital Improvements Budget is compiled by the Finance Department and Planning Commission, and approved by the Mayor and Council. 
Certified Measure
A measure that has been tested and certified by Metro’s Performance Measure Certification Team as having been calculated, documented and reported on correctly.
Citizen’s Guide to the Metro Budget
A multi-faceted web page designed to give the citizens of Nashville and Davidson County an opportunity to view and comment on the strategic and operational direction of the local Metropolitan Government.  The Guide originates as a link on the main government website, www.nashville.gov.
Communicable Diseases
Includes diseases that are usually transmitted through person-to-person contact or shared use of contaminated instruments or materials. Many of these diseases can be prevented through the use of protective measures, such as a high level of vaccine coverage of vulnerable populations.
Comparison Cities
Group of cities used for comparison purposes in the areas of Public Education and Pubic Safety.  The selected peers are similar to Nashville-Davidson County in one or more of three characteristics: government structure, population characteristics, and/or geographic region.
Crime Rate
A measure of the rate of occurrence of crimes committed in a given area and time. The crime rate is given as the number of crimes committed among a given number of persons. Often, the type of crime is exactly specified. Thus, a crime rate might be given as the number of murders (or rapes, thefts, etc.) per 100,000 persons per year within a city.
Department
A major administrative division of Metro reflecting overall management responsibility for an operation or a group of related operations within a functional area. Identifies the highest level in the formal Metro organization in which a specific activity is carried out. For report purposes, the word "department" includes boards, commissions, agencies, and elected offices.
E-Bid
Metro Nashville's online surplus property auction web site where the general public can bid on surplus property online.
Fiscal Year (FY)
A twelve-month period of time to which the budget applies and at the end of which a governmental unit determines its financial position and the results of its operations. In Metro, the fiscal year begins July 1 and ends June 30.
Infant Mortality
The annual number and rate of deaths of resident infants (younger than one year of age). The rate is the number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births to mothers residing in the community area.
Metro Board of Public Education
Created in 1964 following the creation of the Metro Nashville Government, the Metro Board of Public Education is a nine-member elected board charged with leading the Metropolitan Nashville Public School system. 
Metro Nashville Government
Under its present Metropolitan Charter, which became effective April 1, 1963, Nashville and Davidson County have a single government with its authority encompassing more than a half-million people and 533 square miles. This widespread area is governed by a mayor, a vice-mayor and a legislative council of 40 members.
Mission
A clear, concise purpose statement for an entire agency, focusing on the broad yet distinct results that it will achieve for its customers.