MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Representatives Livingston, Green (96th), Broomfield, Foster, 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 2000.

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, 1999, and ending June 30, 2000 $ 850,987.00.

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, 1999, and ending June 30, 2000

$ 569,274.00.

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 $ 697,297.00

Travel and Subsistence 46,673.00

Contractual Services 147,427.00

Commodities 74,800.00

Capital Outlay:

Other Than Equipment 0.00

Equipment 121,999.00

Subsidies, Loans and Grants 332,065.00

Total $ 1,420,261.00

FUNDING:

General Funds $ 850,987.00

Special Funds 569,274.00

Total $ 1,420,261.00

AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:

Permanent: Full Time. . . . . . . . . 15

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

Time-Limited: Full Time. . . . . . . . . 1

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 the policies established by the State Personnel Board and any conditions placed on such expenditures:

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

(b) Funds are provided to adjust the Variable Compensation Plan, including realignment, to ensure that all full-time employees with at least six (6) months of continuous current service, as of June 30, 1999, receive an increase of One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00). Funds are provided to adjust critical job classes up to an additional One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00).

(c) If an employee is currently at or above the end salary for his or her job classification, then the increase shall be built into the employee's base salary. To be eligible for any increase authorized in this section, employees may not have a current performance rating below "meets expectations" as of the effective date of the increase. Employees who subsequently receive a performance rating of "meets expectations" or above during Fiscal Year 2000 shall receive the salary increase effective the date of the rating.

It is the agency's responsibility to make certain that funds required to be appropriated for "Personal Services" for Fiscal Year 2001 do not exceed Fiscal Year 2000 funds appropriated for that purpose unless programs 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 in Section 1, it is the intention of the Legislature that Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000.00) be used for the purpose of establishing a Beaver Control Cost Share pilot program. The Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation Commission shall promulgate rules and regulations for the establishment and operation of the pilot program on a fund matching basis with the county unit of government. Said pilot program shall operate in a minimum of two (2) counties in each Supreme Court District. Funds not expended or encumbered in a pilot county may be transferred to another county during the fiscal year. Only those funds specifically appropriated for the Beaver Control Cost Share pilot program shall be used in any such program.

SECTION 8. The money herein appropriated shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of any money in the State Treasury to the credit of the proper fund or funds as set forth in this act, 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 9. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.