REPORT OF CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
MADAM PRESIDENT AND MR. SPEAKER:
We, the undersigned conferees, have had under consideration the amendments to the following entitled BILL:
S. B. No. 3116: Appropriation; Dept. of Audit.
We, therefore, respectfully submit the following report and recommendation:
1. That the House recede from its Amendment No. 1.
2. That the Senate and House adopt the following amendment:
Amend by striking all after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
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, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008 $ 6,994,185.00.
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, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008......... $ 5,568,306.00.
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$ 10,233,919.00
Travel and Subsistence.............. 861,361.00
Contractual Services..................... 1,190,862.00
Commodities.............................. 99,745.00
Capital Outlay:
Other Than Equipment................ 0.00
Equipment........................... 99,692.00
Vehicles............................ 76,452.00
Wireless Communication Devices...... 0.00
Subsidies, Loans and Grants.............. 460.00
Total.............................. $ 12,562,491.00
FUNDING:
General Funds........................... $ 6,994,185.00
Special Funds............................ 5,568,306.00
Total.............................. $ 12,562,491.00
AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:
Permanent: Full Time........... 169
Part Time........... 1
Time-Limited:Full Time........... 10
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 2009 do not exceed Fiscal Year 2008 funds appropriated for that purpose, unless programs or positions are added to the agency’s Fiscal Year 2008 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 2008 appropriations for "Personal Services" when annualized, with the exception of escalated funds and educational benchmarks. If, at the time the agency takes any action to change "Personal Services", the State Personnel Board determines that the agency has taken an action which would cause the agency to exceed this projected annual cost or the Fiscal Year 2008 "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. On January 1, 2008, the State Personnel Board will make adjustments to the structure side of the compliance report based on data provided by the Legislative Budget Office in order for agencies to award educational benchmarks.
Any transfers or escalations shall be made in accordance with the terms, conditions and procedures established by law or allowable under the terms set forth within this act. The State Personnel Board shall not escalate positions without written approval from the Department of Finance and Administration. The Department of Finance and Administration shall not provide written approval to escalate any funds for salaries and/or positions without proof of availability of new or additional funds above the appropriated level.
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 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:
FY08
Performance Measures Target
Post Audit
Audits Completed (Engagements) 91
Billable Audit Hours (Hours) 134,043
Technical Assistance
Inquiries (Action) 8,100
Cost per Inquiry ($) 36.70
Technicalities (Actions) 48,000
Cost per Technicality (cents per issue) 41.51
Average Daily Attendance
Cost per School ($) 617.71
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 2009.
SECTION 5. 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, and pay related expenses, or to engage private accountants, as necessary, to comply with the provisions of the act.
SECTION 6. It is the intention of the Legislature that whenever two (2) or more bids are received by this agency for the purchase of commodities or equipment, and whenever all things stated in such received bids are equal with respect to price, quality and service, the Mississippi Industries for the Blind shall be given preference. A similar preference shall be given to the Mississippi Industries for the Blind whenever purchases are made without competitive bids.
SECTION 7. It is legislative intent to ensure beneficial information reaches as many Mississippians as possible. Further, it is legislative intent that the expenditure of public funds for this purpose be accomplished in an efficient and effective manner.
Therefore, state agencies as standard procedure, will observe the following criteria:
(1) Develop goals and desired result for a campaign.
(2) Evaluate effectiveness through respected advertising standards, including market reach and cost effectiveness.
(3) Seek public service announcements, which would be aired by media without cost.
(4) Itemize and justify professional assistance and related expenses for creative and production costs outside of the actual media expenditures.
(5) Utilize Mississippi owned media companies when feasible.
SECTION 8. It is the intention of the Legislature that the State Department of Audit is hereby authorized to escalate positions not to exceed ten (10), to escalate budget and expend funds from any special source, for the purpose of auditing emergency United States Housing and Urban Development grants related to Hurricane Katrina, not to exceed One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) in accordance with rules and regulations of the Department of Finance and Administration in a manner consistent with the escalation of federal funds.
SECTION 9. 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 10. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007.
Further, amend by striking the title in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF AUDIT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008.
CONFEREES FOR THE SENATE CONFEREES FOR THE HOUSE
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X (SIGNED) |
X (SIGNED) |
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Jack Gordon |
Johnny W. Stringer |
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X (SIGNED) |
X (SIGNED) |
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Billy Thames |
Linda Coleman |
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X (SIGNED) |
X (SIGNED) |
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Gloria Williamson |
Robert E. Vince |
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