What is the risk associated with excessive political influence on capital budgets?

Excessive political influence on capital budgets can lead to potential misallocation of funds. When political interests overshadow objective assessments of project necessity or priority, funding can be diverted from essential projects to those that may be more politically advantageous or beneficial to specific interest groups. This can result in investments in non-critical projects or services that do not align with the community's actual needs or the true priorities of the government entity. Misallocation can hinder overall project effectiveness, diminish public trust, and negatively affect service delivery in the long run. Prioritizing political agendas over evidence-based financial planning can ultimately detract from the goal of utilizing public funds effectively for community benefit.