budget-neutral

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "budget-neutral" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in discussions about financial policies or proposals that do not increase or decrease the overall budget. Example: "The new tax plan is designed to be budget-neutral, ensuring that it does not add to the national deficit."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

The idea is to make both budget-neutral.

The Economist

We do have a problem with doing it in a budget-neutral way.

The New York Times - Health

(4 Transition adjustment.CMS adjusts the AHPB for all services by 5.5percenttoto produce budget-neutral payments for 1992.

Cornell University

This quality improvement study aimed to expand reach of these supportive materials and services with budget-neutral program changes.

Patient Education and Counseling

Again, reductions in benefit growth for middle- and upper-income individuals offered a budget-neutral progressive solution.

The New York Times

Given these dire ecological trends, limited public funding and legislative gridlock, the time is ripe for a budget-neutral, executive-branch approach for managing our natural resources: triage.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

"It has to be budget neutral," she said.

The New York Times

Remember that ACA state waivers have to be budget neutral.

The Washington Post

Bush claims his proposals are "budget neutral," and we should hold him to that.

The New York Times

Senate rules require that the bill be budget neutral after 10 years.

The Washington Post

The politics Senate rules require that the bill be budget neutral after 10 years.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a plan or proposal, specify how it achieves "budget-neutrality". Mention the offsetting savings or revenue sources to provide a clear picture of the financial strategy.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that a proposal is "budget-neutral" without providing supporting evidence or details. Instead, clearly outline the specific measures that ensure financial balance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "budget-neutral" primarily functions as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe plans, policies, or initiatives that do not impact the overall budget. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Academia

24%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "budget-neutral" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adjective that describes policies or proposals designed to have no net impact on a budget. As confirmed by Ludwig, its usage is correct and well-established. It appears most often in news and media, academic, and scientific contexts, and is used to assure readers or listeners that a given action will not affect overall spending. Alternative phrases like "cost-neutral" or "revenue-neutral" can be used depending on the specific context. When using "budget-neutral", it's best practice to specify how that neutrality is achieved, and avoid simply stating that a proposal is "budget-neutral" without providing supporting details.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cost-neutral

Replaces "budget" with "cost", emphasizing the expense aspect rather than the overall budget.

fiscally balanced

Uses "fiscally" to relate to financial matters and "balanced" to convey equilibrium.

revenue-neutral

Focuses specifically on maintaining the same level of revenue.

balanced budget

Emphasizes that the budget is in a state of equilibrium.

no net cost

Highlights the absence of any overall expense.

zero-sum budget

Implies a budget where gains in one area are offset by losses in another.

self-financing

Indicates that a project or program generates enough revenue to cover its own costs.

offsetting costs

Describes a situation where expenses are balanced by corresponding savings or income.

financial equilibrium

Uses more formal language to describe a state of balance in financial terms.

economically self-sufficient

Focuses on economic independence and the ability to sustain oneself financially.

FAQs

How can I use "budget-neutral" in a sentence?

You can use "budget-neutral" to describe policies or proposals that don't increase or decrease the overall budget, such as, "The proposed tax reform is designed to be "revenue-neutral", ensuring no net change in government income."

What's a good alternative to "budget-neutral"?

Alternatives include "cost-neutral", "revenue-neutral", or "fiscally balanced", depending on the specific context and aspect you want to emphasize.

What does it mean for a policy to be "budget-neutral"?

A "budget-neutral" policy means that any new spending or tax changes are completely offset by corresponding cuts or increases elsewhere, resulting in no overall impact on the total budget. It's similar to saying the proposal has "no net cost".

How does a "budget-neutral" policy differ from a "balanced budget"?

While a "balanced budget" refers to the overall state of a budget where revenues equal expenditures, a "budget-neutral" policy is a specific change within the budget that doesn't alter the overall balance. Think of a balanced budget as the destination and a budget-neutral policy as a "self-financing" route to getting there.