Legislative Analyst's Office, February 17, 2000
|
Highlights
of the
2000-01 Analysis and P & I
|
State Fiscal Picture
LAO's Revenue Assessment
- The budget's revenue forecast has been superceded
by extraordinarily positive developments in December and January. As a result,
revenues will exceed the budget forecast by a total of $4.2 billion--$2.1
billion each in the current and budget years. (P&I,
Part Three.)
- These additional funds will be available for any purpose, including increasing the reserve, spending priorities, or tax relief.
Implications for the Budget
- The current fiscal outlook gives the Legislature the best opportunity in two decades to both strategically address major priorities and
strengthen the state's underlying fiscal condition.
- In making decisions about these new monies, it is
important to strike the right balance between one-time and ongoing commitments.
Additional ongoing commitments should not exceed $2.1 billion annually. (P&I,
Part One.)
Legislative Input and Oversight
Critical for Successful Budget
- Many of the proposals and initiatives in the budget are "works in progress," lacking sufficient detail for review.
- The Legislature will have to determine which of these proposals have merit in concept and then "flush out" the details during hearings this
spring.
Program Highlights
Education
Funding Increases Do Not Match
Relative Needs of K-14, UC, and CSU
- The budget proposes to increase the base budgets of the University of California (UC) and the California State University (CSU) by 6 percent
for 2000-01. The budget also includes funds above this amount for enrollment growth and the Governor's initiatives. This contrasts with the
2.84 percent base increase for K-12 schools and community colleges. This disparity raises questions given that K-12 schools appear to face
greater challenges regarding program quality than do UC and CSU.
- We recommend that these base adjustments be equalized
at 2.84 percent (estimated inflation) and that $134 million be shifted from
UC and CSU to increase discretionary funding for K-12 schools. This shift
would still leave UC and CSU with total budget increases of 9 percent and
7.4 percent, respectively. (Analysis,
page E-19.)
Options for More Education Spending
- We make various recommendations that would increase Proposition 98 spending above the Governor's proposed 2000-01 level by
$172 million.
- Given the state's current positive fiscal situation,
the Legislature may wish to add even more funds to education programs. If
so, we suggest that the Legislature place as much emphasis as possible on:
(1) general purpose funds for K-12 (Analysis,
page E-67); (2) equalization funds for K-12 (Analysis,
page E-67) and community colleges (Analysis,
page E-174); (3) block grants for disadvantaged schools (Analysis,
pages E-24 and E-37)
and various one-time purposes; and (4) Cal Grants to increase access to higher
education. (Analysis,
page E-13.)
K-12 Accountability Should Lead to Local Discretion
- K-12 accountability reforms adopted in the 1999 Special Session logically lead to a shift in the state's budgeting emphasis from a focus on
inputs to attention to outcomes.
- To maximize chances for improving educational results,
we believe the state should give local school districts and school sites more
flexibility to match funds with local needs. (Analysis, pages E-13
and E-67.)
Teacher Quality and Supply
- The budget focuses attention on the problem of recruiting teachers to "hard-to-staff" schools, but fails to target the neediest schools. In
addition, the effectiveness of its various proposals would be limited by the lack of local discretion.
- We recommend redirecting the funding for four proposed
programs into a $122 million block grant to school districts for teacher recruitment/retention
at the one-fifth of K-12 schools with the most pressing needs. (Analysis,
page E-22.)
- We recommend restoring funding for the Cal Grant
T program (providing scholarships for teacher preparation programs) and retargeting
the Assumption Program of Loans for Education to schools with the most serious
recruitment/retention problems. (Analysis, pages E-187
and E-189.)
Annual Budget Process Is a Partnership With UC and CSU
- The Governor proposes to guarantee UC and CSU annual 5 percent increases in their base budgets, plus provide funding for enrollment
growth, capital needs, and high-priority initiatives. The "Higher Education Partnership" is contingent on progress being made between the
administration, CSU, and UC on accountability goals.
- We recommend that the Legislature not endorse annual
guaranteed funding because the annual budget process allows the Legislature
to hold the segments accountable and maintains the Legislature's flexibility
in balancing its budget priorities. (Analysis,
page E-137.)
Health and Social Services
Legislature Should Consider Changes to Aging with Dignity Initiative
- In his Aging with Dignity Initiative, the Governor proposes $272 million ($140 million General Fund) to establish numerous programs and
activities designed to improve nursing home care and develop community-based alternatives to nursing homes.
- We make several recommendations, including the following:
- Consider alternatives to the proposed long-term care tax credit, such as further expansion of Medi-Cal coverage for seniors and the disabled,
that would better target state funds, in addition to making use of available federal monies.
- Reject the proposed 5 percent pay increase for staff in "distinct part"
nursing facilities (which are attached to hospitals) because their rates
currently are significantly higher than rates for other nursing homes. (Analysis,
page C-17.)
CalWORKs County Performance Incentive System
Should Be Changed
- Under the current California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, counties receive state payments, or
performance incentives, based primarily on savings resulting from recipients who (1) leave the program due to employment or (2) have
increased earnings. The Governor proposes to prohibit counties from receiving any new performance incentives until the unmet obligation
(about $500 million) has been paid. The administration also indicates that it will propose legislation to eliminate or "sharply modify" the
performance incentive program.
- We find that so far, the performance incentive system
has not been effective. Should the Legislature decide to retain such a system,
we recommend that it (1) be funded with General Fund monies that can be used
by the counties for any purpose, rather than only within the CalWORKs program;
and (2) tie the amount of incentive payments to improvement in CalWORKs
program outcomes, rather than base the incentives on savings that would have
occurred even in the absence of the program. (Analysis,
page C-148.)
Wisconsin Child Care System Should Be Tested
- California has a bifurcated system of subsidized child care. The state is fully funding the child care needs of CalWORKs recipients and former
recipients, but is not fully funding the needs of the working poor.
- We recommend legislation be enacted to establish
a pilot project to evaluate the costs and programmatic impacts of implementing
the Wisconsin child care system in California. By using standardized eligibility
criteria for the working poor--irrespective of welfare status--and fully funding
the program, this would result in covering more persons. The additional costs
would be offset (possibly entirely) by a schedule of co-payments that would
be higher than the relatively low co-payments charged currently in California
for subsidized child care. (Analysis,
page C-32.)
Filling Vacancies Would Reduce Staffing
Increases in Governor's Initiatives
- The budget requests a net increase of 557 positions for the Department of Health Services in 2000-01, raising the total number of authorized
positions in the department to 6,198--an increase of almost 10 percent. Most of the new positions would be for nursing home enforcement (as
part of the Governor's Aging with Dignity Initiative) and Medi-Cal antifraud activities.
- The requests for new positions come despite the fact that, as of January 2000, the department had over 900 vacant positions--a vacancy rate
of more than 16 percent.
- We recommend that the department evaluate its staffing
vacancies in order to identify workload that can be met by filling existing
positions instead of adding new positions at an additional cost. (Analysis,
page C-56.)
Allocate Funds to Local Child Support Agencies
On Basis of Cost-Effectiveness
- The Governor proposes additional positions to staff the new Department of Child Support Services, and proposes a General Fund increase of
$23 million in local assistance funds that would be distributed to the counties to administer the program.
- We recommend (1) reducing the number of administrative
positions proposed for the new department, and (2) augmenting the local assistance
budget for the counties by $5 million from the General Fund, with the provision
that these funds be distributed on the basis of each county's record of cost-effectiveness
(as measured by the ratio of increases in collections to increases in administrative
costs). Based on our analysis, the augmentation would result in a net savings
to the state in the long run. (Analysis,
page C-131.)
Judiciary and Criminal Justice
Comprehensive Approach Needed to Link
Mentally Ill Offenders to Community Care
- An increasing number of offenders are being released from jails and prisons to an inadequate patchwork of supervision, treatment services,
and assistance. This approach is costly to taxpayers and public safety because many of these offenders soon commit new crimes and return
to jail or prison.
- We discuss several initiatives in the Governor's
budget aimed at keeping the mentally ill out of the criminal justice system
and suggest that the Legislature consider a more comprehensive approach for
addressing these problems. (Analysis,
page D-13.)
Major Shifts in Prison Inmate Population Growth
- The Department of Corrections is projecting that the state's inmate population will grow much more slowly over the next five years than it did
in the 1990s.
- Recent prison population data suggest, however, that
the growth rate is even slower than the new projections and would indicate
that a stabilization in the prison population may now be occurring. (Analysis,
page D-34.)
Additional Steps Warranted to Reform Adult Parole System
- The Governor proposes a significant expansion of the state's force of parole agents as well as expansion of programs to assist inmates who
have been released from prison in making a crime-free transition back into the community.
- We recommend that the Legislature approve the Governor's
proposal to create a Second Strike Task Force, but consider augmentations
to improve the effectiveness of the program. We also recommend denial of the
proposal to expand a program to search for offenders who have fled while on
parole because the program has not been effective. Finally we offer other
options to reform the adult parole system and break the cycle of parole failure
and reincarceration. (Analysis,
page D-45.)
Hearings for Inmates With Life Terms Represent
Process Without Possibility of Parole
- An unwritten administration policy that effectively ensures that no prison inmate with a life sentence is released on parole has significant legal,
policy, and fiscal ramifications on the state criminal justice system.
- We recommend that the Youth and Adult Correctional
Agency and the Board of Prison Terms clarify the scope, intent, and reasons
for the administration's policy during budget hearings. (Analysis,
page D-56.)
Additional Steps and Clarification Needed in
State's Take Over of Support for Trial Courts
- Legislation enacted in 1997 shifted primary financial responsibility for support of the state's trial courts from the counties to the state. This
resulted in a major new financial responsibility for the state's General Fund, exceeding $1 billion in 2000-01.
- As implementation of the new funding structure has
proceeded, a number of issues have surfaced that will require clarification
in additional legislation or changes to budgeting practices, such as distribution
of court-related fees, budgeting for locally negotiated salary increases,
and management of trial court employees. (Analysis,
page D-82.)
Major New Law Enforcement Grant Program Not Justified
- The budget requests $100 million for a major new
program to assist local law enforcement agencies with technology and school
safety equipment. We find that the program is not justified and recommend
that funding be deleted. We note that the proposal lacks important details,
contains no evidence of the level of demand for equipment funds, and duplicates
an existing program. (Analysis,
page D-107.)
Capital Outlay
Action Steps for Funding Higher Education Capital Outlay
- With limited resources, the state should invest in higher education capital outlay projects that will result in maximum educational benefit
statewide. This can be done by considering all capital outlay proposals across higher education rather than for each segment in isolation of
the others and evaluating capital needs using statewide guidelines.
- We recommend several action steps (such as appropriating
funds based on statewide priorities rather than equal amounts for each segment)
for the Legislature to take, to initiate a review and approval process that
will allow the use of limited resources to maximum effect. (Analysis,
page G-15.)
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Capital Outlay Program Over Budget and Behind
Schedule
- The current estimated cost of 23 projects approved by the Legislature in the 1998-99 Budget Act and 1999-00 Budget Act are over budget by
a total of $13.9 million (an average of 52 percent). For several projects, the department has proposed reducing the scope of work and
increasing the cost.
- We have withheld recommendation on the department's
entire $62.4 million capital outlay request pending receipt of information
addressing the problems in implementing the capital outlay program and documenting
what steps will be taken to cure these problems. (Analysis,
page G-37.)
Inmate Day Labor Program Should Result in Significant Savings
- The Department of Corrections uses inmates and private trades personnel to construct various projects throughout the state's prisons. This
should result in significant savings in construction costs, yet the department is asking instead for a $4.6 million (an average of 36 percent)
increase in the amount for 18 projects previously approved for construction based on using inmate labor.
- We recommend that if the department cannot commit
to providing a significant savings compared to private contracting for construction,
the Legislature adopt budget bill language prohibiting the use of inmate day
labor on major capital outlay projects. (Analysis,
page G-51.)
Construction Cost for UC Buildings Too High
- The UC is the only segment of higher education that does not use construction cost guidelines. The California Community Colleges and the
CSU use guidelines that are reasonable when compared to the cost of comparable buildings throughout the country.
- We reviewed the construction cost of 15 recent UC research facilities and compared these costs with 192 public and private comparable
research laboratory buildings constructed since 1980 across the country. The UC facilities range from 46 percent to 32 percent more costly
than the comparable buildings.
- We recommend the Legislature apply construction cost
guidelines when funding UC facilities. For undergraduate and other nonresearch
facilities, we recommend using CSU cost guidelines. For research facilities
we recommend reducing the amounts requested in the budget by 32 percent. (Analysis,
page G-68.)
The CSU Should Not Seek Nonstate Funds for Projects Involving
State Costs Before the
Legislature Approves the Project
- The CSU is requesting a total of $53.2 million for construction of two projects--the CSU San Marcos, Library Information Center and CSU
Monterey Bay, Science/Academic Center--for which CSU has independently begun preliminary plans and working drawings using nonstate
funds. The Legislature, however, was not asked to approve these projects before CSU proceeded and has never had the opportunity to
review and consider the need for the project.
- In view of CSU's action on these projects, we have
recommended that the Legislature not fund projects when nonstate funds have
been solicited prior to legislative approval and direct CSU to discontinue
this practice. We also recommend the Legislature deny the requested funds
because the projects are not needed at this time. (Analysis, pages
G-80 and G-81.)
The CSU Should Explain Its Intentions in Connection with the
CSU San Bernardino, Coachella
Valley Off-Campus Center
- The CSU has not provided any information on this new center. There are no capital outlay proposals for the center in CSU's Five-Year Capital
Improvement Program. However, CSU has requested $180,000 in its support budget to move from facilities at the College of the Desert to this
new center. The CSU Web site indicates that $9 million of private funds have been raised to construct the first building of a planned
$29 million CSU campus on a 40-acre site.
- This is another example of CSU proceeding with major
developments that have significant state funding implications before receiving
legislative approval. We recommend the Legislature not act on the CSU San
Bernardino capital outlay proposals until CSU provides a detailed report to
the Legislature on its current plans and any commitments CSU has made with
regard to this center. (Analysis,
page G-82.)
Transportation
Transportation Initiative Flawed;
Immediate Congestion Relief Unlikely
- The budget proposes to advance $3.6 billion of future
funds for additional projects in the 2000 State Transportation Improvement
Program period. Given Caltrans current vacancies and the length of time it
takes to plan and deliver transportation projects, the initiative would provide
little immediate congestion relief. (Analysis,
page A-21.)
- We estimate that the initiative would require Caltrans
to hire between 4,000 to 8,000 additional staff mainly in the next two years
to design projects. Given Caltrans' track record in hiring and training staff,
we doubt that the department would be able to hire and train enough staff
in time to deliver these additional projects between 2000-01 through 2003-04.
(Analysis,
page A-20.)
- The budget proposes "use-it-or-lose-it" provisions
for two types of local transportation funds--federal transportation funds
and gas tax revenues. We conclude that the proposals are unwarranted and recommend
against them. (Analysis,
page A-22.)
Rail Proposals Inconsistent With State's Funding Process
- The budget proposes $71 million from the General
Fund to support specific commuter and urban rail capital improvement projects.
We recommend that funding be provided in a lump sum amount, instead of individual
projects, to be allocated by the California Transportation Commission based
on project priorities and readiness. Such an approach is consistent with the
current transportation funding process. (Analysis,
page A-75.)
Project Delivery Hampered by Vacancies,
Project Management, and Funding Fragmentation
- Caltrans' project delivery has improved, but is still hampered by vacancies, its use of project management, and fragmentation of state and
federal funding. We recommend steps to expedite delivery of transportation projects.
(Analysis,
page A-41.)
Environmental Review Process Should Be Streamlined
- Most delays in delivering transportation projects
occurs during environmental review. We recommend steps the Legislature and
Caltrans can take to expedite the environmental review process at both the
state and federal level, without compromising the level of review. (Analysis,
page A-53.)
Funding Shortfall for Mass Transportation
- The Public Transportation Account, which funds mass
transportation, is projected to experience a shortfall of $53 million over
the four-year period 2000-01 through 2003-04. We recommend enactment of a
constitutional amendment to permit expenditure of gas tax revenues for transit
rolling stock. (Analysis,
page A-27.)
Comprehensive Passenger Rail Study Needed
Before More Expansion in Intercity Rail Service
- Intercity rail service has increased in recent years.
Before the state invests heavily in intercity rail service expansion, we recommend
that a comprehensive passenger rail study be conducted in order to determine
the state's priorities for rail transportation. (Analysis,
page A-62.)
Department of Motor Vehicles' (DMV) Computer Projects
In Disarray; More Projects Proposed
- Over the past ten years, the DMV has spent more than $50 million to replace three aging databases containing driver licenses, vehicle
registration, and other data. These efforts have encountered repeated failures, delays, and cost overruns.
- Currently, two of the three major projects are stalled
and the third has been suspended indefinitely. We recommend that the Legislature
deny funding for a fourth (and smaller) computer project, and request the
Bureau of State Audits to perform an independent audit of DMV's database replacement
efforts to identify causes for the delays and solutions to the ongoing difficulties.
(Analysis,
page A-91.)
Registration-on-the-Web Tangled in High Costs,
Technical Limitations
- The DMV is preparing to offer vehicle registration
services on the Internet.
- On-line registration, as proposed by DMV, will be
more costly to the state than most other methods due to credit card fees and
computer programming costs. In addition, on-line registration would be available
only to about 1 percent of vehicle owners due to certain technical limitations.
- We believe that the minimal convenience provided
to a small fraction of motorists is not worth the costs and risks of this
project. (Analysis,
page A-97.)
Resources
Expanded Recycling Program Budget Not Justified
- Recent legislation expands, by about 15 percent, the range of beverages subject to the state's beverage container recycling program. The
legislation also modifies some of the program's administrative rules and expands some recycling-related grant programs.
- The budget provides the Department of Conservation
an additional $5.6 million for increased responsibilities in implementing
the program. Based on our review, we conclude that an increase of this magnitude
is not justified given the likely workload. We recommend reducing the increase
by $2.1 million. (Analysis,
page B-73.)
Coastal Commission Insufficiently Addressing Statutory Duties
- The California Coastal Commission is inadequately carrying out its statutory responsibilities in protecting the state's coastal resources. In
addition, a number of local governments are not fulfilling their responsibilities under the Coastal Act.
- We believe the proposed staffing augmentations to
enhance enforcement by the commission are warranted. However, we also recommend
several other actions, including adoption of budget bill language and statutory
changes, to increase the commission's ability to enforce the Coastal Act.
(Analysis,
page B-87.)
Watershed Assessment Initiative: A Good Idea,
But Will Not Achieve Goals
- An effective watershed assessment can provide valuable information necessary for improving regulatory and restoration efforts on
watersheds. However, our review finds that the administration's proposal to assess North Coast watersheds lacks the components of an
effective watershed assessment. Specifically, it is not likely that the proposal will achieve the goals of improving regulatory and restoration
efforts for two reasons: (1) the data collection design is flawed and (2) the finished assessments are inadequately linked to regulatory and
restoration efforts.
- We recommend the Secretary for Resources report to the Legislature on how data collection and dissemination would be coordinated among
the various resources departments and how assessment results would be used to improve regulatory and habitat restoration efforts.
(Analysis, page B-32.)
CALFED: Big Dollars, Big Decisions--But Who Is Accountable?
- The CALFED Bay-Delta Program will soon shift from planning to program implementation, lasting at least 30 years and involving the
expenditure of potentially $10 billion. During this phase, major expenditure and policy decisions will be made related to the type, location,
timing, and financing of specific projects.
- Without major changes to CALFED's current loosely
configured organizational structure, it will be difficult for the Legislature
to hold the program accountable for the policy and expenditure decisions that
will be made over the coming years. We recommend the enactment of legislation
that establishes a structure that provides clear lines of accountability for
these decisions. (Analysis,
page B-48.)
"CUPA" Program: State Agencies
Overseeing Program Can Do Better Job
- Problems exist in the California Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) program--a consolidation of various local hazardous material and
hazardous waste programs under state oversight--including inconsistent statewide implementation, inadequate service levels in parts of the
state, and inadequate state efforts to hold local agencies accountable for their fees.
- We recommend the enactment of legislation requiring
the state agencies overseeing the program to take various actions to make
the program more effective. (Analysis,
page B-55.)
Water Storage Studies: Legislative Oversight Increasingly Important
- As the Department of Water Resources' studies of
water storage alternatives move from the global to a project-specific level,
it will become increasingly important for the Legislature to have effective
oversight over these studies and the related policy decisions. To enhance
legislative oversight, we recommend that project-specific storage studies
be scheduled in the budget act. (Analysis,
page B-105.)
Many Policy Issues Unresolved for School Bus Replacement Proposal
- There are a number of unresolved policy issues surrounding the Governor's $50 million proposal to replace old diesel school buses with
cleaner buses. For example, the administration has yet to determine whether the proposal's primary objective is to achieve the maximum
amount of pollution reductions or, alternatively, to modernize the school bus fleet to improve safety while achieving pollution reductions.
- We think that these policy issues should be defined
by the Legislature in statute prior to funding the proposal. Until then, we
recommend deletion of funding from the budget. (Analysis,
page B-109.)
General Government
Many Budget Proposals Lack Sufficient Justification or Details
- A number of the proposed augmentations in the General Government portion of the budget are poorly justified or contain inadequate
information and detail.
- These include proposals in the Information Technology
Innovation Fund (Analysis, page F-73), the child support activities
at the Franchise Tax Board (Analysis,
page F-66), the public school construction Web site and "e-business center"
in the Department of General Services (Analysis, pages
F-121 and F-126),
the Urban Public Park in the Arts Council (Analysis, page F-143),
and the juvenile boot camp in the Military Department (Analysis,
page F-152).
Legislature Needs More Information on the Formation of
The New Department of Managed Care
The budget proposes a total of $27.9 million and 315 positions for the new department in 200001. A large amount of this funding and positions is
proposed to be implemented administratively in the current year.
There are numerous details regarding the administration's
plans for establishing this new department that are unclear--such as when the
Governor will issue an executive order to establish the department in the current
year and what the department's priorities and expected progress in organizing
itself will be in the budget year. (Analysis,
page F-36.)
Department of Food and Agriculture Needs to
Develop a Comprehensive Agricultural Pest Plan
- The budget includes $72.3 million for the agricultural plant pest program in the Department of Food and Agriculture. This program includes
elements such as screening incoming parcels for contaminated agricultural products, inspecting vehicles entering the state, and monitoring
pest detection traps.
- The department does not have a comprehensive plan outlining program goals and objectives. Without such a plan, the Legislature will find it
increasingly difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of the various elements of this program.
- We recommend that the department provide by October
1, 2000, a comprehensive statewide plan for all plant pest prevention, detection,
and eradication programs. This plan should include the coordination of state
and county programs. (Analysis,
page F-52.)
Agricultural Parcel Inspection Program
Is Not a Prudent Use of State Funds
- The budget includes $1.9 million and 30 positions to continue the Agricultural Parcels Inspection Program. The program began in 199697 as a
two-year pilot program and was extended two years by the Legislature.
- The program includes 12 teams--consisting of an agricultural biologist, an agricultural inspector, and a dog trained to detect plant
material--that are deployed in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Los Angeles Basin, and the San Diego area. These teams screen over ten
million package per year but this is only 1 percent to 6 percent (depending on the location) of the packages entering the state. In addition,
very few packages (only 300 over the program's life) have been found to contain what the department considers harmful pests.
- The program is not a cost-effective use of the state's
pest detection funding. We recommend the Legislature delete the $1.9 million
requested to continue the Agricultural Parcel Inspection Program. (Analysis,
page F-56.)
Time to Reconsider Approach to Statewide Welfare Automation
- The Statewide Automated Welfare System (SAWS) is at a critical juncture. Costs are considerable (potentially $2 billion), much work still
needs to be accomplished, making the system work will be technically difficult, and the current funding arrangement does not account for
changes in law that occurred since the SAWS strategy was enacted.
- We recommend that the Legislature direct the Health
and Human Services Agency, in conjunction with the Department of Information
Technology, to rexamine the current approach and report its findings before
the Legislature provides additional funding for the project. (Analysis,
page F-92.)
"New Economy" Initiative Long on Concept But Short on Substance
- The budget proposes $7 million for "new economy" initiatives such as a Next Generation Internet Network and an E-Commerce in Rural
Economic Regions Demonstration Project.
- These proposals are conceptual in nature and are
not supported by any definitive information. In addition, there are no expected
measurable outcomes for the proposals. (Analysis,
page F-134.)
Proposed Augmentation for Citizen's Option
For Public Safety (COPS) Program Is Flawed
- The budget proposes a $21.3 million augmentation to the existing $100 million COPS program which provides funds to local governments for
law enforcement activities. The augmentation would be distributed to local law enforcement agencies so that each agency receives at least
$100,000.
- The proposal is flawed for several reasons. There
is no guarantee that agencies would use the additional money as the Governor
intends (to hire new officers), the augmentation benefits only very small
jurisdictions (those with populations of less than 45,000 persons), and the
augmentation does not account for local fiscal conditions (many wealthy communities
would be the beneficiaries). (Analysis,
page F-182.)
Legislative Analyst's Office
Legislative Analyst
Elizabeth G. Hill
445-4656
Deputy Legislative Analysts
Hadley Johnson, Jr.
445-5456
Mac Taylor
445-6511
Business, Labor, and Capital Outlay
Director: Gerald Beavers 322-8402
Criminal Justice and State Administration
Director: Craig Cornett 445-4660
Economics, Taxation, and Fiscal
Forecasting
Director: Jon David Vasché 324-4942
Education, Higher
Coordinator: Buzz Breedlove 445-8641
Education, K-12
Coordinator: Robert Turnage 445-8641
Health and Welfare
Director: Chuck Lieberman 445-6061
Local Government
Director: Mac Taylor 445-6511
Transportation and Resources
Director: Dana Curry 445-5921
Staff
roster of e-mail addresses
Staff
assignments
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