GENERAL GOVERNMENT DIVISION

The General Government Division (GGD) coordinates GAO's work in the areas of federal oversight of financial institutions; tax policy and administration; administration of justice; general management issues; civilian workforce matters; and government business operations and information.

The division's audit coverage includes the Bureau of the Census and the Bureau of Economic Analysis in the Department of Commerce; the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the United States Attorneys, the United States Marshals Service, and the United States Parole Commission in the Department of Justice; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the Bureau of the Public Debt, the Internal Revenue Service, the United States Customs Service, the United States Mint, and the United States Secret Service in the Department of the Treasury; the Office of Management and Budget; personnel agencies such as the Office of Personnel Management, and the Merit Systems Protection Board; federal banking regulatory agencies including the Farm Credit Administration, the Federal Reserve Boards, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Office of Thrift Supervision, the Federal Housing Finance Board, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; the Administrative Office of the United States Courts; the Architect of the Capitol; the Federal Election Commission; the General Services Administration; the Government Printing Office; the Library of Congress; the National Archives and Records Administration; the Smithsonian Institution; the United States Botanic Garden; and the United States Postal Service.

GENERAL GOVERNMENT DIVISION

EXPLANATION OF CHANGES SHOWN ON SCHEDULE C
(Dollars in thousands)

A. Mandatory Pay Costs

1. Annualization of Fiscal Year 1998 Salaries

Annualization of ingrade increases, which are paid in
accordance with 5 USC {{5335 and 5343, for merit pay and
promotions that will be granted in fiscal year 1998, and for 3-
month annualization of the January 1998 health benefits
changes and cost-of-living and locality pay raises.

2. Civilian Pay Raise

Anticipated January 1999 civilian pay raise of 2.6 percent. 3. Locality Pay

Anticipated January 1999 locality pay raise of 0.5 percent
based on the location of GAO employees.

4. Personnel Benefits

Increase in employer contributions to FEGLI, CSRS, FERS
Thrift Plan, and Social Security taxes resulting from increases in
personnel compensation and the Social Security taxable wage
base, for increases resulting from greater participation in the
FERS retirement system, as well rate changes in the Federal
Employees Health Benefits Program.

B. Price Level Increases

1. Travel

Anticipated increase in travel costs due to semiannual airline
fare changes. Also, the General Services Administration
annually increases travel per diem and mileage reimbursement
rates based on the increasing cost of service.

2. Training

Anticipated increase in the cost of training provided by USDA
and other government and commercial vendors.