The article examined, on the basis of resolutions and/or reports, the procedures adopted by the Audit Offices of the State (TCE) and Municipalities (TCM) of Bahia, to check the revenue and expenditure linked to education and found a number of omissions, inconsistencies and mistakes which most likely have reduced the amount of funds earmarked to education. The State Audit Office, for example, has only taken into account the 25% minimum percentage of taxes (as provided in the Brazilian Federal Constitution) and never mentioned extra revenue to this minimum, such as payroll-linked contribution, federal transfers for programmes such as school meals or credit operations linked to education. In addition, the reports contain inconsistent data and confuse two different concepts, that of expenditure on the budgetary notion of education with the concept of maintenance and development of education. The Audit Office of the Municipalities has also made a number of mistakes in its resolutions. It employed the term 'basic education' (a much broader term) instead of 'education for children prior to 6 years old' and confused expenses on education (a broader term) with expenses on Fundef (a more restricted category, as it refers to part of the expenses on education). Furthermore, it adopted an illegal interpretation by accepting that part of 40% of Fundef (or Fundeb) public funds be used by non-public so-called community, religious or charity schools.
Education funding; Education budget; The Audit Offices of the Brazilian State of Bahia