MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Representatives Foster, Barnett (92nd), Bowles, Davis (7th), Denny, Livingston, Maples, McCoy, McInnis, Short

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FROM SPECIAL FUNDS IN THE STATE TREASURY FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1998.  

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the State Treasury to the credit of the Department of Transportation Funds, for the purpose of defraying the administrative expenses of the Mississippi Department of Transportation for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, and ending June 30, 1998

$ 721,006,773.00.

SECTION 2. The following offices are supported by the funds appropriated in Section 1: The Office of Administrative Services, the Office of Highways, the Office of Aeronautics and Rails and the Office of Enforcement. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 1, not more than the amounts set forth below shall be expended for the respective major objects or purposes of expenditure:

MAJOR OBJECTS OF EXPENDITURE:

Personal Services:

Salaries, Wages and Fringe Benefits $ 107,307,389.00

Travel and Subsistence 3,267,047.00

Contractual Services 70,860,733.00

Commodities 22,358,741.00

Capital Outlay:

Other Than Equipment 495,227,119.00

Equipment 10,418,517.00

Subsidies, Loans and Grants 11,567,227.00

Total $ 721,006,773.00

AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:

Permanent: Full Time. . . . . . . . . 3,437

Part Time. . . . . . . . . 19

Time-Limited: Full Time. . . . . . . . . 0

Part Time. . . . . . . . . 0

From the funds provided in the budget category "Personal Services: Salaries, Wages and Fringe Benefits," funds may be expended for the following purposes, in compliance with policies established by the State Personnel Board and any conditions placed on such expenditure:

(a) The components of the Variable Compensation Plan shall be maintained within the constraints of the funds appropriated herein.

(b) Funds shall be used to fund the "Realignment" component at the requirement established by the State Personnel Board.

(c) Subsequent to the application of Realignment, as specified in Subparagraph (b), above, funds shall be used to provide all eligible state employees employed on or before June 30, 1996, a Three Hundred Dollar ($300.00) "In-Service" COLA base salary increase effective July 1, 1997.

(d) All eligible state employees employed on or before June 30, 1996, shall receive a one percent (1%) salary increase on the first day of the month following their anniversary hire date.

(e) To be eligible for the salary increases specified in Subparagraphs (c) and (d), above, employees must have a current overall performance appraisal rating of "meets expectations" (2.0), or above, on the effective date of the increase. Employees who, subsequent to their eligibility date, receive a performance appraisal rating of "meets expectations" (2.0), or above, during Fiscal Year 1998 shall receive the salary increase effective the date of the rating. If an eligible employee is currently at or above end step for his or her job classification, or should this salary increase cause an eligible employee's salary to exceed end step, that portion of the increase exceeding end step shall be built into the employee's base salary.

It is the agency's responsibility to make certain that funds required to be appropriated for Personal Services for Fiscal Year 1999 do not exceed Fiscal Year 1998 funds appropriated for that purpose unless programs and/or positions are added to the agency's budget by the Mississippi Legislature.

Any transfers or escalations shall be made in accordance with the terms, conditions and procedures established by law.

No general funds authorized to be expended herein shall be used to replace federal funds and/or other special funds which are being used for salaries authorized under the provisions of this act and which are withdrawn and no longer available.

SECTION 3. Of the funds appropriated to the Mississippi Department of Transportation under the provisions of Section 1 and authorized for expenditure in Section 2, the following amounts shall be available for expenditure in the program budgets as required by Section 27-103-127, Mississippi Code of 1972:

Administration and Other Expenses.........$ 47,382,211.00

Construction..............................$ 549,496,153.00

Maintenance...............................$ 112,030,488.00

Debt Service..............................$ 270,000.00

Law Enforcement...........................$ 8,252,668.00

Aeronautics and Rails.....................$ 3,575,253.00

SECTION 4. Of the funds appropriated in Section 1 and authorized for expenditure in Section 2, it is the intention of the Legislature that One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) shall be transferred to the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks for the Beaver Control or Eradication Program during the Fiscal Year 1998.

SECTION 5. Of the funds appropriated in Section 1, and allocated in Section 2 in the Major Object of Expenditure "Capital Outlay: Equipment", an amount no greater than Four Million One Hundred Fifty-two Thousand Four Hundred Seventeen Dollars ($4,152,417.00) shall be spent on equipment other than construction equipment. Construction equipment shall include, but not be limited to, all road machinery, dump trucks and other vehicles.

SECTION 6. With the funds provided herein, it is the intention of the Legislature that the department set aside One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) for the Emergency Contingency Fund. These funds will be taken from existing funds at the department's discretion from July 1, 1997, through March 31, 1998, at which time any unexpended funds can be utilized by the department for normal operations. These funds may be used for the correcting of hazardous road conditions due to inclement weather or acts of God.

SECTION 7. Of the funds appropriated herein, it is the intention of the Legislature that the Mississippi Department of Transportation shall expend funds available in this act to construct and/or reconstruct four-lane roads or highways (or segments thereof) for high impact casino roads.

SECTION 8. Of the funds appropriated to the Mississippi Department of Transportation, Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) shall be used for the Statewide Litter Prevention Program.

SECTION 9. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Mississippi Department of Transportation shall have the authority to escalate and expend funds from any proceeds arising from participation in drug seizure activities not to exceed Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00).

SECTION 10. Of the construction funds appropriated in Section 1 and allocated in Section 2, it is the intention of the Legislature that priority shall be given in letting paving contracts on grade, drain and bridge projects which have been completed for six (6) months or more. This action will not prohibit the Department of Transportation from letting paving contracts on grade, drain and bridge projects which have been completed for less than six (6) months.

SECTION 11. Of the funds appropriated in Section 1 and allocated in Section 2, it is the intention of the Legislature that an amount no less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) shall be utilized to repair and maintain welcome centers, hospitality centers and rest areas located on the highways of Mississippi.

SECTION 12. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of this act, the sum of Eight Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($850,000.00), or so much thereof as may be necessary, is provided for a comprehensive study of air transportation and airports in Mississippi, to include without limitation an inventory and evaluation of airport facilities, an assessment of the role of Mississippi airports within the national and state air transportation systems, an economic impact analysis of air transportation and Mississippi airports, a discussion of opportunities for passenger and cargo growth and obstacles, an analysis of capital requirements, and recommendations for funding priorities.

SECTION 13. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 1 and authorized in Section 2, the following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is provided to defray the costs of constructing and/or improving to four (4) lanes of traffic an access road from Mississippi Highway 552 to the front entrance of Alcorn State University, widening and improving the access road, Alcorn State University 552 Road, from Mississippi Highway 552 to the northwest entrance of Alcorn State University, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, and ending June 30, 1998

$ 1,674,700.00.

SECTION 14. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 1 and authorized in Section 2, the department shall expend Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) each for mass transit in Hinds County and Harrison County, Mississippi.

SECTION 15. With the funds provided herein, the department may reallocate the appropriate existing positions to the following positions: Four (4) Maintenance Superintendents II, ten (10) Engineering Aides III, nine (9) Engineer Administrator Assistants, twenty (20) Engineering Technicians Certified Senior, twenty-five (25) Equipment Operators - Light Vehicles, one (1) Chief Fiscal Officer, one (1) DP-Systems Analyst IV, one (1) Personnel Officer V, one (1) Accountant/Auditor III, one (1) Personnel Officer IV, one (1) Vehicle Permit Supervisor, and one (1) Vehicle Permit Technician. Subsequent to approval by the Attorney General, six (6) positions may be reallocated to Attorney Senior.

SECTION 16. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 1 and allocated under the provisions of Section 2 to the budget category "Salaries, Wages and Fringe Benefits," funds are provided to adjust the base salaries of MDOT - Rail Inspectors in the amount of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per month for those rail inspectors who were employed in such position as of June 30, 1992.

SECTION 17. Of the funds appropriated in Section 1 and allocated in Section 2, One Thousand Six Hundred Sixty-eight Dollars ($1,668.00) is provided for PIN 1462 Equipment Operator - Heavy Machinery.

SECTION 18. Of the funds herein appropriated, an amount not to exceed Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) may be transferred to the Institutions of Higher Learning - University Research Center, Mississippi Automated Resource Information System (MARIS) for the purpose of funding a joint project to convert 1996 aerial photography of the state into a standard digital format commonly referred to as a digital orthophoto quadrangle.

SECTION 19. Of the funds herein appropriated, funds are included for the purpose of providing a realignment increase for the professional engineering classifications of DOT-Engineer I, DOT-Engineer II, DOT-Engineer III, DOT-Engineer IV, DOT-Engineer Administrator Assistant, DOT-Engineer Division Administrator, DOT-Engineer Bureau Administrator and DOT-Deputy Executive Director/Chief Engineer as approved by the State Personnel Board.

SECTION 20. The money appropriated under the provisions of Section 1 shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of any money to the credit of the State Highway Fund, upon warrants issued by the State Fiscal Officer; and the State Fiscal Officer shall issue his warrants upon requisitions signed by the proper person, officer or officers, in the manner provided by law.

SECTION 21. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997.