House Bill NO. 1609

By Senator(s) Committee

SECTION 1. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized and approved for expenditure out of any funds which are received by or otherwise become available to the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the district for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1999, and ending June 30, 2000 $ 7,875,745.00.

However, funds derived from the special tax levy authorized under the provisions of Section 51-9-139, Mississippi Code of 1972, shall be expended only for principal of and interest on bonds and shoreline development.

SECTION 2. Of the funds approved for expenditure 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 $ 2,565,261.00

Travel and Subsistence 24,000.00

Contractual Services 1,603,900.00

Commodities 510,000.00

Capital Outlay:

Other Than Equipment 2,150,000.00

Equipment 374,584.00

Subsidies, Loans and Grants 648,000.00

Total $ 7,875,745.00

AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:

Permanent: Full Time. . . . . . . . . 78

Part Time. . . . . . . . . 12

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 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 3. Of the funds authorized and approved for expenditure herein, it is the intention of the Legislature that not less than twenty-five percent (25%) of all revenues obtained from the sale of timber on the Pearl River Valley Supply District property shall be used for the promotion and enhancement of wildlife on the Pearl River Valley Supply District property. The promotion and enhancement of wildlife and the expenditure of these funds shall be under the supervision of and at the discretion of the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

SECTION 4. The funds herein approved for expenditure, except and less an amount approved by the State Fiscal Officer which shall be sufficient to cover disbursements for current operations, shall be deposited at interest with any official depository of the state at a rate of interest numerically not less than one percent (1%) below the bank discount rate on United States Treasury bills of comparable maturity as determined by the State Treasurer.

SECTION 5. The money herein approved for expenditure shall be disbursed upon bank checks signed by the proper person, officer or officers, in the manner provided by law or in accordance with the provisions of a valid trust indenture.

SECTION 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.