MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Representatives Livingston, Short, Foster, Green (96th), Nettles, Vince

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF THE STATE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION COMMISSION 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 General Fund not otherwise appropriated, to the State Soil and Water Conservation Commission for the purpose of defraying the administrative expenses of the commission and carrying out the provisions of Section 69-27-1 et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, and ending June 30, 1998 $ 766,393.00.

SECTION 2. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the special fund in the State Treasury to the credit of the State Soil and Water Conservation Commission which is comprised of special source funds collected by or otherwise available to the commission, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the commission for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, and ending June 30, 1998

$ 904,929.00.

SECTION 3. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 1 and Section 2, 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 $ 853,735.00

Travel and Subsistence 53,552.00

Contractual Services 147,427.00

Commodities 74,800.00

Capital Outlay:

Other Than Equipment 0.00

Equipment 110,583.00

Subsidies, Loans and Grants 431,225.00

Total $ 1,671,322.00

FUNDING:

General Funds $ 766,393.00

Special Funds 904,929.00

Total $ 1,671,322.00

AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:

Permanent: Full Time. . . . . . . . . 18

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

Time-Limited: Full Time. . . . . . . . . 4

Part Time. . . . . . . . . 1

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 4. The State Soil and Water Conservation Commission is hereby authorized to retain all funds generated from the sale of equipment. Any funds made available from the sale of equipment shall be deposited into the special fund in the State Treasury to the credit of the Soil and Water Conservation Commission and shall be used solely for the purpose of purchasing equipment.

SECTION 5. The State Soil and Water Conservation Commission is hereby authorized to receive, budget and expend any proceeds derived from the sale of bonds authorized in Section 69-27-331 et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972. All expenditures shall be in accordance with conditions provided in Section 69-27-331 et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972.

SECTION 6. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Soil and Water Conservation Commission shall have the authority to escalate its budget and expend funds from any source not to exceed Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($750,000.00) in accordance with rules and regulations of the Department of Finance and Administration in a manner consistent with the escalation of federal funds.

SECTION 7. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 1 and allocated to the "Salaries, Wages and Fringe Benefits" major object of expenditure, funds in the amount of Twelve Thousand Four Hundred Forty-seven Dollars ($12,447.00) are provided for the purpose of defraying the cost of any salary increases which may result from the enactment of any statutory salary increases during the 1997 Regular Session, and said funds shall not be used for any other purpose. It is the intention of the Legislature that any funds provided in this act for statutory salary increases shall lapse into the State General Fund at the end of the fiscal year if statutory salary increases are not enacted during the 1997 Regular Session.

SECTION 8. 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 9. The money appropriated under the provisions of Section 1 shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of any money in the State General Fund not otherwise appropriated, and the money appropriated under the provisions of Section 2 shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of any money in the special fund to the credit of the State Soil and Water Conservation Commission, 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 10. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997.