The Executive Budget recommends:

A 34 FTE increase in the number of positions assigned to the Department which would bring its total workforce to 884 FTEs at the end of SFY2001-02. These increases include a:

33 FTE increase in the Local Government and Community Services program; 25 new FTEs will be funded with a General fund appropriation and 8 would be funded with a special revenue-other appropriation;

1 FTE increase in the Licensing Services program, the 17 FTE positions funded by the General Fund would now be funded under the special revenue other appropriation for this program;

1 FTE increase in the Lake George Park Commission program offset by a loss of 1 FTE in the State Ethics Commission program.

Eliminates the Maintenance Undistributed appropriation in the Administration program for the Commission on Uniform State Laws.

Only a $136,900 increase in the adjusted General Fund personal service appropriation, which reflects the contractual increases paid in SFY2000-01, for the Local Government and Community Services program. Such an increase is insufficient to meet the cost of adding 25 new positions as proposed in the executive budget and pay contractual increases for SFY 2001-02. This indicates that the new positions will be added towards the end of SFY2001-02. The Executive Budget provides no justification for these new positions, nor is any explanation offered as to their purpose.

A $3.7 million decrease in the General Fund maintenance undistributed appropriation in the Local Government and Community Services program. The changes in this appropriation include a:

$5 million decrease in the amount available for services and expenses associated with legal and other fees related to Indian land claims litigation (there was a

$7 million appropriation, there is now a $ 2 million appropriation);

$1.3 million new appropriation for the services and expenses of a campus fire safety program. It is unclear whether this is related to the 25 FTE increase proposed for this program. The Executive has proposed Article VII legislation that would authorize the Office of Fire Prevention and Control to conduct annual safety inspections on all public and independent college and university campuses outside New York City. The legislation also provides for criminal penalties.

A $65,500 decrease in the adjusted special revenue personal service appropriations, which reflects the contractual increases paid in SFY2000-01, for the Local Government and Community Services program. This is unusual since 8 new FTEs are to be funded out of this appropriation, although The Executive Budget provides no justification for these new positions, nor is any explanation offered as to their purpose. There is a $263,800 increase in the overall adjusted special revenue-other non-personal service appropriation for this program. No explanation is provided for this increase. A comparison of the unadjusted special revenue appropriations for this program shows a slight overall increase in these appropriations. This indicates that the eight new positions will be added at the end of SFY2001-02.

A $1.9 million decrease in a Fiduciary Fund appropriation in the Local Government and Community Services program, which eliminates a $2 million appropriation for services and expenses related to the New York State Fire Academy and includes a new $100,00 appropriation for non-personal service expenses related to education and training.

The elimination of a $600,000 special revenue federal appropriation in the Local Government and Community Services program for Code Enforcement. There is also $74,200 decrease in the special revenue other personal service appropriation for the code enforcement program, which is offset by a $19,100 increase in the non-personal service appropriations for this program. This issue should be clarified with Department of state management to ensure no positions will be lost due to these cuts and to ascertain their new funding source.

Increased licensing fees to raise an additional $2.8 million for the Licensing Services program. The increase in licensing, examination and application fees range from $10 to $35 for appearance enhancement professionals, barbers, real estate brokers and salespersons, hearing aid dispensers, alarm installers, security guards, private investigators and notaries. The Executive claims these fee increases are necessary to offset the costs of improving and modernizing the application and license process. The Legislature defeated a similar proposal last year, which included greater fee increases.

A proposed 50% increase in the dock, wharf, and mooring fees at Lake George to support the operations of the Lake George Park Commission. This proposal is included in Article VII legislation. The Executive Budget estimates that these fee increases will raise $231,000 in SFY2001-02.