This paper analyses the fiscal performance of the São Paulo state municipalities during the 1989-2001 period, considering the influence of two political factors: the electoral agenda and the different political party ideologies. By considering specific components of the public municipal budget and panel data Econometrics, evidences of positive impulses in municipal expenditures were found in the election years of 1992 and 1996 and, for the political parties, it is found evidences that: (i) higher public investments are undertaken by PFL; (ii) PTB, PPB/PDS and PMDB spend more financial resources in personal current transfers than the other political parties. Additionally, the Brazilian Fiscal Responsibility Law seems to exert an effective control on the public budget performance.
political cycles; panel data; public municipal budget
