MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2003 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Gordon, Thames, Farris, Kirby, Chaney, Frazier, Little, Walls, Williamson

Senate Bill 2934

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF AUDIT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2004.

     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 funds in the State General Fund not otherwise appropriated, for the purpose of paying salaries and defraying the expenses of the State Department of Audit in making the audits and investigations of public offices of the state and counties as provided by Section 7-7-201 et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2003, and ending June 30, 2004     $     5,959,024.00.

SECTION 2.  The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any special funds in the State Treasury to the credit of the State Department of Audit's special fund account for the purpose of paying salaries and defraying the expenses of the State Department of Audit in making the audits and investigations of public offices of the state and counties as provided by Section 7-7-201 et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2003, and ending June 30, 2004...... $     4,174,776.00.

     SECTION 3.  Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Sections 1 and 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$     8,318,363.00

Travel and Subsistence..............        801,858.00

Contractual Services.....................        877,456.00

Commodities..............................         86,123.00

     Capital Outlay:

Other Than Equipment................              0.00

Equipment...........................         50,000.00

Subsidies, Loans and Grants..............              0.00

Total.............................. $    10,133,800.00

  FUNDING:

General Funds........................... $     5,959,024.00

Special Funds............................      4,174,776.00

Total.............................. $    10,133,800.00

  AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:

Permanent:    Full Time...........      168

Part Time...........        1

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

Part Time...........        0

     With the funds herein appropriated, it is the intention of the Legislature that it shall be the agency's responsibility to make certain that funds required to be appropriated for "Personal Services" for Fiscal Year 2005 do not exceed Fiscal Year 2004 funds appropriated for that purpose, unless programs or positions are added to the agency's Fiscal Year 2005 budget by the Mississippi Legislature.  Based on data provided by the Legislative Budget Office, the State Personnel Board shall determine and publish the projected annual cost to fully fund all appropriated positions in compliance with the provisions of this act.  It shall be the responsibility of the agency head to insure that no single personnel action increases this projected annual cost and/or the Fiscal Year 2004 appropriation for "Personal Services" when annualized.  If, at the end of any calendar month, the State Personnel Board determines that the agency has taken action(s) which would cause the agency to exceed this projected annual cost or the Fiscal Year 2004 "Personal Services" appropriated level, when annualized, then only those actions which reduce the projected annual cost and/or the appropriation requirement will be processed by the State Personnel Board until such time as the requirements of this provision are met.

     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.  In addition to the sums appropriated herein, the Office of the State Auditor is hereby authorized to receive, budget, and expend, with the approval of the Department of Finance and Administration, any special funds made available to comply with the Single Audit Act of 1984.  These special funds may be used to employ staff, reallocate existing staff, and pay related expenses, or to engage private accountants, as necessary, to comply with the provisions of the Act.

     SECTION 5.  Within the funds provided herein, audits of the Institute for Technology Development (ITD) are to be performed by the State Auditor in accordance with Sections 31-29-3 and 31-29-25, Mississippi Code of 1972.  In conducting these audits, the State Auditor may rely to the maximum extent possible upon audits of ITD conducted by independent auditors in accordance with the provisions of the "Standards for Audit of Governmental Organizations, Programs, Activities and Functions" published by the Comptroller General of the United States and Circular A-133 "Audits of Institutions of Higher Learning and Other Non-Profit Institutions" published by the Office of Management and Budget. ITD shall present the results of any and all such audits to the State Auditor for review and incorporation into his reports to the Legislative Budget Committee.  The audits to be provided to the State Auditor by ITD shall include at least one (1) annual financial and compliance audit and one (1) audit of its indirect costs and associated billing rate agreements.

     SECTION 6.  In compliance with the "Mississippi Performance Budget and Strategic Planning Act of 1994," it is the intent of the Legislature that the funds provided herein shall be utilized in the most efficient and effective manner possible to achieve the intended mission of this agency.  Based on the funding authorized, this agency shall make every effort to attain the targeted performance measures provided below:

                                                          FY2004

Performance Measures                                      Target

Post Audit

     Audits Completed (Engagements)                          145

     Billable Audit Hours (Hours)                        150,556

Technical Assistance

     Inquiries (Action)                                   10,000

     Cost per Inquiry ($)                                  27.93

     Technicalities (Actions)                              2,000

     Cost per Technicality ($)                              0.66

Average Daily Attendance

     ADA Examination (Actions)                            10,210

     Cost per Attendance Count ($)                         49.33

     Cost per School ($)                                  572.32

     A reporting of the degree to which the performance targets set above have been or are being achieved shall be provided in the agency's budget request submitted to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee for Fiscal Year 2005.

     SECTION 7.  It is the intention of the Legislature that none of the funds appropriated by this act shall be expended for increased charges for State and School Employees' Health Insurance Plan premium rates assessed by the Department of Finance and Administration in excess of the Fiscal Year 2003 premium rates for the health insurance plan.

     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, 2003.