Distinguished - Thoroughly explains the adequacy of the budget message and determines if there are separate capital budget and capital improvement plans. Comprehensively assesses the immediate and long range development plans. Uses relevant examples from the budget documents to support the explanation and assessment.

Proficient - Explains the adequacy of the budget message and determines if there are separate capital budget and capital improvement plans. Assesses the immediate and long range development plans. Uses examples from the budget documents to support the explanation and assessment.

Basic - Vaguely explains the adequacy of the budget message and determines if there are separate capital budget and capital improvement plans. Briefly assesses the immediate and long range development plans. Uses somewhat unclear examples from the budget documents to support the explanation and/or assessment.

Below Expectations - Minimally explains the adequacy of the budget message and does not determine if there are separate capital budget and capital improvement plans. Attempts to assess the immediate and long range development plans; however, examples from the budget documents may not be used to support the explanation and the assessment or the examples used do not provide support.

Non-Performance - The explanation of the adequacy of the budget message and assessment of the immediate and long range development plans are either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Clearly identifies and discusses the budget’s largest service area, including why it is the largest. Clearly identifies its largest expenditure category and expertly applies concepts, vocabulary from the text, and budget documents.

Proficient - Identifies and discusses the budget’s largest service area, including why it is the largest. Identifies its largest expenditure category and sufficiently applies concepts, vocabulary from the text, and budget documents.

Basic - Identifies and vaguely discusses the budget’s largest service area, including why it is the largest. Identifies its largest expenditure category and minimally applies concepts, vocabulary from the text, and budget documents.

Below Expectations - Attempts to identify and discuss the budget’s largest service area, including why it is the largest and identify its largest expenditure category; however, concepts, vocabulary from the text, and budget documents are either inappropriately utilized or are not applied.

Non-Performance - The identification and discussion of the budget's largest service area are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Clearly identifies the municipality's fund quantities and revenue sources and comprehensively assesses the General Fund and enterprise funds’ revenue history and adequacy. Expertly applies concepts and vocabulary from the text and budget documents.

Proficient - Identifies the municipality’s fund quantities and revenue sources and assesses the General Fund and enterprise funds’ revenue history and adequacy. Sufficiently applies concepts and vocabulary from the text and budget documents.

Basic - Identifies the municipality's fund quantities and revenue sources, but minimally assesses the General Fund and enterprise funds’ revenue history and adequacy. Somewhat applies concepts and vocabulary from the text and budget documents.

Below Expectations - Attempts to identify the municipality’s fund quantities and revenue sources and assess the General Fund and enterprise funds’ revenue history and adequacy; however, concepts and vocabulary from the text and budget documents are either inappropriately utilized or are not applied.

Non-Performance - The identification and assessment of funds are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively analyzes the municipality’s financial health and financial dangers. Expertly constructs connections between course concepts and/or additional research and uses relevant and appropriate examples from the budget documents.

Proficient - Analyzes the municipality’s financial health and financial dangers. Sufficiently constructs connections between course concepts and/or additional research and uses relevant examples from the budget documents.

Basic - Analyzes the municipality’s financial health and financial dangers. Minimally constructs connections between course concepts and/or additional research and uses examples from the budget documents.

Below Expectations - Attempts to analyze the municipality’s financial health and financial dangers; however, connections between course concepts and/or additional research are not constructed and examples from the budget documents are not used.

Non-Performance -The analysis of financial health and financial dangers is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Paper is logically organized with a well-written introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion.

Proficient - Paper is logically organized with an introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion. One of these requires improvement.

Basic - Paper is organized with an introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion. One or more of the introduction, thesis statement, and/or conclusion require improvement.

Below Expectations - Paper is loosely organized with an introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion. The introduction, thesis statement, and/or conclusion require much improvement.

Non-Performance - The introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Employs persuasive information from credible sources to develop an ample analysis or synthesis of the topic. Viewpoints of experts are scrutinized thoroughly.

Proficient - Employs applicable information from credible sources to develop an analysis of the topic.

Basic - Identifies applicable information from credible sources, but may neglect the application of such information toward the analysis of the topic.

Below Expectations - Displays information from external sources, but such information may lack credibility and/or relevance. Neglects the application of such information toward the analysis of the topic.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - Demonstrates methodical application of organization and presentation of content. The purpose of the writing is evident and easy to understand. Summaries, quotes, and/or paraphrases fit naturally into the sentences and paragraphs. Paper flows smoothly.

Proficient - Demonstrates sufficient application of organization and presentation of content. The purpose of the writing is, for the most part, clear and easy to understand. There are some problems with the blending of summaries, paraphrases, and quotes. Paper flows somewhat smoothly.

Basic - Demonstrates a limited understanding of organization and presentation of content in written work. The purpose of the writing is somewhat evident, but may not be integrated throughout the assignment. There are many problems with the blending of summaries, paraphrases, and quotes. Paper does not flow smoothly in all sections.

Below Expectations - Organization and presentation of content is extremely limited. The purpose of the writing is unclear. There is little or no blending of summaries, paraphrases, and quotes. Paper does not flow smoothly when read.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - Displays meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains no errors, and is very easy to understand.

Proficient - Displays comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains only a few minor errors, and is mostly easy to understand.

Basic - Displays basic comprehension of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains a few errors, which may slightly distract the reader.

Below Expectations - Fails to display basic comprehension of syntax or mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains major errors, which distract the reader.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - Accurately uses APA formatting consistently throughout the paper, title page, and reference page.

Proficient - Exhibits APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout contains a few minor errors.

Basic - Exhibits basic knowledge of APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout does not meet all APA requirements.

Below Expectations - Fails to exhibit basic knowledge of APA formatting. There are frequent errors, making the layout difficult to distinguish as APA.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - The paper meets the specific page requirement stipulated in the assignment description.

Proficient - The paper closely meets the page requirement stipulated in the assignment description.

Basic - The paper meets over half of the page requirement stipulated in the assignment description.

Below Expectations - A fraction of the page requirement is completed.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - Uses more than the required number of scholarly sources, providing compelling evidence to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.

Proficient - Uses required number of scholarly sources to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.

Basic - Uses less than the required number of sources to support ideas. Some sources may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are used within the body of the assignment. Citations may not be formatted correctly.

Below Expectations - Uses inadequate number of sources that provide little or no support for ideas. Sources used may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are not used within the body of the assignment. Citations are not formatted correctly.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.