75th Legislative Session -- 2000

Committee: House Appropriations

                                            P - Present
                                            E - Excused
                                            A - Absent

Roll Call
P      Cerny
E      Burg
P      Sutton (Daniel)
P      Derby
P      Clark
P      Pummel
P      Klaudt
P      Wudel
P      Putnam, Vice-Chair
P      Richter, Chair


OTHERS PRESENT: See Original Minutes

The meeting was called to order by Chair Richter

SECRETARY OF STATE

Mr. Mark Zickrick, LRC, provided budget information for the committee.

Mr. Tom Leckey informed the committee that the budget increase in personal services is for an increase in wages, in addition to the Governor's proposed salary package. He explained that it is difficult to get people trained and retain them under pressure to lose them to another department that can pay higher wages.

Mr. Leckey advised the committee of the increased number of lien filings and the desire to use a new system for electronic filing.

Mr. Leckey updated the committee on the status of Amendment E and said their office would be mailing out 32,000 forms to various corporations that need to be completed and returned to the Secretary of State by March 1, 2000.

SCHOOL AND PUBLIC LANDS

Mr. Bill Pike, LRC, provided budget information for the Committee (Document #1).

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Mr. Curt Johnson, Commissioner presented documentation in support of budget requests and funding (Document #2).

Commissioner Johnson informed the committee that because of the high number of land appraisals they were requesting an increase of $3,860 in contractual services. The decrease of $28,000 in capital outlay reflects unneeded computer upgrades being relinquished from this budget.

A brief discussion followed on the progress of repairing dams. Mr. Johnson responded that they have been working with Department of Game Fish & Parks and Department of Environmental and Natural Resources to identify and put together a listing of those dams and the scope of repair that is needed.

The committee recessed at 8:30 and reconvened at 9:00.

BUREAU OF ADMINISTRATION

Mr. Bill Pike, LRC, provided budget information for the committee (Document #3).

Mr. Tom Geraets, Commissioner, Bureau of Administration, explained that they provide administrative, personnel, financial and legal services to the bureau. These services are then billed back to the various agencies they serve.

Included in this budget is $606,703 for the Springfield leaseback payment. Other
increases was $157,449 other funds, which is to cover cost of a one time $1 per hour salary adjustment for 67 full-time Building & Grounds employees.

Mr. Geraets updated the committee on the ongoing statewide maintenance and repair for Department of Corrections, Department of Social Services, Board of Regents facilities and Military and Veterans Affairs facilities. He said the unfunded list for next year is approximately 6 million dollars. The committee was supplied with a copy of the Statewide Maintenance and Repair Unfunded Projects listing (Document # 4).

The committee recessed at 9:30 a.m. and reconvened at 10:15 a.m.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS

Mr. Mark Zickrick, LRC, provided budget information for the committee (Document #5).

Mr. Ray Christensen, Secretary, Education and Cultural Affairs, in prepared remarks informed the committee that their recommended budget has an increase of $17,457,694 and 3FTE. Of the $17 million there is an increase of $14,354,796 in general funds.

Mr. Christensen said the department's budget consists of two categories: state aid to education and the rest of the department's budget.

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Ms. Susan Woodmancy, Director Data Collection & Technical Support, presented prepared documentation in support of State Aid to Education (Document #6). Ms. Woodmancy explained that they had received approximately 3500 duplicate student records that resulted in a reduction of 1500 students, thereby creating a $10,306,489 credit between estimated vs actual state aid total funding.

Mr. Christensen reported that the State Aid recommendation includes an increase of $12,520,561 in general funds. State Aid to postsecondary technical institutions is recommended to increase by $201,780.

The programs within the department's agency budget are the following programs General Administration, Workforce and Career Preparation, Education Services and Resources, Office of Arts, Office of History and the State Library.

Mr. Christensen informed the committee that included in the budget was the Governor's recommendation for the establishment of a new office in the Division of Education Services & Resources. The office would be staffed by 3 FTE and would research into best practices in distance learning and incorporating that technology into teaching and learning.

A committee discussion followed on the the implementation and criteria for teachers and the impact it would have on school districts. Mr. Christensen said another component the department has under review is student testing, and the possibility of doing this on-line.

MOTION:      ADJOURN

Moved by:      Representative Putnam
Second by:      Representative Wudel
Action:      Prevailed by voice vote.

Jeanette Black ___________________________
Committee Secretary