Explanation of Changes Shown on Schedule C COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS!! For salaries and expenses of the Committee on Appropriations, $33,303,000. The fiscal year 2010 budget request is an increase of $2,003,000 or 6.4% over the FY'09 Enacted Budget. This amount includes $29,576,000 for mandatory items, $41,000 for price level increases, $2,981,000 for program current services, and an increase of $705,000 for program changes. I. Personnel Details: FY'10 Request - $29,576,000 A. Base: $28,319,000 i. The estimated FY'09 personnel compensation will be $28,289,000 ii. The estimated FY'09 personnel benefits will be $30,000 B. Budget Calculations: i. FY'09 Cost of Living Annualized - (1.195%) 4.78% ii. FY'10 Cost of Living Prorated - (2.175%) 2.9% iii. FY'10 Meritorious Increase - 1.0% C. Requested Changes: i. FY'09 Cost of Living Annualized - $338,000 ii. FY'10 Cost of Living Prorated - $623,000 iii. FY'10 Meritorious Increases - $293,000 iv. FY'10 Personnel Benefits - $3,000 II. Price Level Details: FY'10 Request - $41,000 The increase of $41,000 is based upon an inflation factor of 1.4%. III. Program Details: FY'10 Request - $3,686,000 A. Current Services: i. Official Expenses: $2,981,000 - The Official Expenses program of the Committee on Appropriations is composed of non-personnel items such as equipment, travel, telecommunications, printing and contract services. B. Proposed Changes: i. Official Expenses: $705,000 - This increase is due to the beginning of a threeyear lifecycle schedule to replace, maintain and update Committee equipment, in addition to estimated increases for the cost of rent, communications and utilities and travel. Explanation of Changes Shown on Schedule C SALARIES, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES For salaries and expenses of the Office of the Clerk, $33,901,000. The fiscal year 2010 budget request is an increase of $6,444,000 or 23.47% over the FY'09 enacted budget. The requested amount includes $21,602,000 for mandatory items, $27,000 for price level increases, $7,557,000 for program current services, and an increase of $4,715,000 for program changes. I. Personnel Details: FY'10 Request - $21,602,000 A. Base: $19,900,000 i. The estimated FY'09 personnel compensation will be $19,841,000 ii. The estimated FY'09 personnel benefits will be $59,000 B. Budget Calculations: i. FY'09 Cost of Living Annualized - (1.195%) 4.78% ii. FY'10 Cost of Living Prorated - (2.175%) 2.9% iii. FY'10 Longevity Increase - 1% iv. FY'10 Meritorious Increase - 1% C. Requested Changes: i. FY'09 Base Adjustment - $233,000 This adjustment fully funds the FY'10 personnel request. ii. FY'09 Cost of Living Annualized - $240,000 iii. FY'10 Cost of Living Prorated - $442,000 iv. FY'10 Overtime Pay - $365,000 v. FY'10 Longevity Increase - $211,000 vi. FY'10 Meritorious Increase - $211,000 II. Price Level Details: FY'10 Request - $27,000 The increase of $27,000 is based upon an inflation factor of 1.4%. III. Program Details: FY'10 Request - $12,272,000 A. Current Services: i. Electronic Voting System/Chamber Display: $500,000 (15 month funding request) - The Legislative Computer Systems (LCS) group in the Office of the Clerk is currently investigating alternatives for the House Chamber to upgrade existing display technologies. The Main Display in the House Chamber was originally installed in 1976. In August 1987, the doors and wiring harnesses were replaced. Since then, the only significant work on the displays was completed in early 2003 when the vote indicator lights were upgraded to LED technology. As with any technology, age plays a major role in the increased risk of failure. In the current main display, Member nameplates located in the doors need to be physically rearranged whenever there is a change in membership. This is a timeconsuming process and puts further stress on the doors. The alternative display technologies that LCS is investigating include: LED, projection, modern nameplate systems and plasma. LCS is working with prominent vendors that supply these technologies to other Legislative entities. A preliminary cost estimate for LED displays alone was over $4,000,000, and other technologies may cost more. We are also looking at upgrading our summary panel technologies. Members would like to have additional information describing a particular vote on the two summary panels. The space on the current summary panels which are also an older technology can not be expanded to accommodate this request so we are also looking at upgrading the summary panels. A summary of available upgrade options, costs and timeframes will be presented to House Leadership for guidance and approval in early CY 2009. Replacing the main displays in the House Chamber will not only be costly but will take a significant amount of time to properly plan and implement during House recess times. Any upgrade solution will also require electrical changes, a new support structure and time to rewire. This upgrade project will take multiple phases to complete and will cross fiscal years. Total cost may approach $6,500,000 over several years. ii. Legislative Resource Center: $454,000 – The Legislative Resource Center (LRC) is the Clerk's hub for statutory registrations and filings, public information and legislative documents, and library services. It manages a library in excess of 125,000 volumes of official congressional publications. The LRC annually responds to approximately 100,000 inquiries, processes over 30,000 official filings, and distributes congressional documents. iii. House Employment Counsel: $183,000 The House Employment Counsel provides House employers with advice and guidance relating to their employment policies and practices and provides representation during employment grievance proceedings. It is administered by the Clerk under the bipartisan direction of the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Committee on House Administration. iv. History and Preservation: $356,000 - The Office of History and Preservation collects, preserves, and interprets the heritage of the House through historical, curatorial, and archival services to the House. Historical publications include maintaining the House entries of the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress along with other publications mandated by the House. The Office of Historical Preservation curates the House Collection, activities which include acquisition and care of collection objects, processing of artifact loans, and services to members and staff. This office also processes the records of the House, oversees their eventual safe transfer to the National Archives, and provides advice to Committee staff and Member office staff on records management. v. Legislative Computer Systems: $1,225,000 - Legislative Computer Systems provides the technical and information technology support for all elements of the Office and administers the House Electronic Voting System. It interfaces with other electronic information service providers critical to House operations and provides technical support for initiatives including the Document Management System Initiative. vi. Service Group: $29,000 The Service Group administers the Members and Family Committee Room, the Congresswomen's Suite, and the Capitol Prayer Room. 1 vii. Publication Services: $78,000 - The Office of Publications Services processes the official printing requests of the House and manages the Clerk's website. viii. Legislative Operations: $129,000 – The Office of Legislative Operations is the organizational authority for the oldest of the Clerk's legislative services: bill and enrolling; tally; reading; Journal; and the Daily Digest. |