HR's job is to hire someone at the very least amount possible.
If this is true, then this would be another reason that HR departments are totally useless. HR should be there to support the hiring manager in finding the best people for the job and should do everything possible to make them want to stay. They should have nothing to do with the budget besides their own.
Indeed, their purpose should be to help the department hiring the new employee they have has a budget approved for. They should not meddle in the budget since that has usually already been approved.
If this is true, then this would be another reason that HR departments are totally useless. HR should be there to support the hiring manager in finding the best people for the job and should do everything possible to make them want to stay. They should have nothing to do with the budget besides their own.