Department of Agriculture & Markets
The enacted budget passed by the Legislature made the following changes to the Executive Budget (analysis as of March 30, 2006):
- Restores $1.1 million in a maintenance undistributed appropriation in the Consumer Food Services program for services and expenses related to 21 food inspectors. This reflects the Legislature’s rejection of the Executive’s proposal to replace annual inspections with risk-based inspections of retail food stores, pet dealers and breeders.
- Rejects the Executive Budget’s proposal for a $40 million capital project appropriation to construct a new food laboratory in Albany County
- Rejects the Executive proposal to increase penalties for violations of food safety rules and instead requires the department to do a study by February 1, 2007 on the adequacy of existing penalties and to make recommendations for any new penalties.
- Allows the department to enter into a contract or cooperative agreement with federal, state, local, and educational entities under which the department’s laboratory services can be made available to these entities.
The Senate and Assembly made the following changes to the Executive Budget (analysis as of March 15, 2006):
Senate:
- Rejected the Executive proposal to eliminate 21 food inspector positions and the establishment of risk-based inspections. Although the Report of the Senate Finance Committee indicates a restoration of the $1.1 million associated with these positions, the appropriations bill does not include these funds. This is probably an oversight.
- Reduced the overall appropriation for the Department by $1.3 million which includes reductions in the non-personal service appropriations for the Administration, Agricultural Business Service, Consumer Food Service, and the State Fair Programs.
- Rejected the Executive proposal to increase penalties for violations of food safety rules.
- Accepted the Executive Budget’s proposal for a $40 million capital project appropriation to construct a new food laboratory in Albany County but is reportedly advocating that the laboratory be located in another part of the State.
Assembly:
- Rejected the Executive Budget proposal to establish a program of risk-based inspections of retail food stores, pet dealers and breeders replacing the current annual inspection program.
- Added a $1.1 million maintenance undistributed appropriation to fund the annual inspection program and 21 food inspector positions.
- Rejected the Executive Budget’s proposal for a $40 million capital project appropriation to construct a new food laboratory in Albany County
The Executive Budget recommends (analysis as of January 24, 2006):
- A decrease of 21 FTEs from the adjusted SFY 2005-06 year-end target of 567. The proposed decrease of 21 FTEs is entirely in the Agricultural Business Services Program (General Fund) and is accomplished through attrition. It is unclear which programs within the Agricultural Business program will suffer position reductions but the NY Farm Net/NY Farm Link appropriation is completely eliminated and there is a significant reduction in the Agriculture Producers Security personal service appropriation. According to Assembly analysis, the 21 FTEs are Food Inspector positions.
- Proposes an All Funds increase of $8.4 million, or 7.3%.
- Proposes legislation to establish a program of risk-based inspections of retail food stores, replacing the current annual inspection program. According to the Division of Budget this would save $1.1 million in program costs. This savings is reflected in the elimination of the $1.1 million maintenance undistributed appropriation in the Consumer Food Services program. In the past, the Legislature has rejected this proposal, however this year the proposal is not accompanied by a reduction in the number of inspector position in the Consumer Food Services program
- Proposes to increase the penalties for food and health violations.
- Proposes legislation to allow the Commission of Agriculture & Markets to enter into fee-for-service agreements for laboratory work services performed on behalf of other entities. Several other states do not have adequate laboratory testing facilities to administer food tests and instrument calibration work and often request services from the Department of Agriculture & Markets’ laboratories. This proposal allows the Department to continue to provide service to other states, local and Federal agencies, as well as educational entities, and also to collect fees for the services provided.
- Recommends a $40,000,000 Capital Projects appropriation for the construction of a food laboratory in Albany.
Program Details-State Operations
Enacted
Proposed
Enacted
Change in
Percent
Program
2005-06 Budget
2006-07 Budget
2006-07 Budget
Appropriation
Change
All Funds
$115,653,000
$124,127,400
$125,227,400
$9,574,400
8.3%
General Fund
$27,994,000
$31,593,900
$32,693,900
$4,699,900
16.8%
Special Revenue-Fed
$27,194,000
$28,544,000
$28,544,000
$1,350,000
5.0%
Special Revenue-Other
$38,429,000
$39,920,600
$39,920,600
$1,491,600
3.9%
Enterprise Fund
$20,343,000
$22,387,700
$22,387,700
$2,044,700
10.1%
Fiduciary Fund
$1,693,000
$1,681,200
$1,681,200
($11,800)
-0.7%
Administrative Program
$4,559,000
$5,940,800
$5,940,800
$1,381,800
30.3%
Personal Service
$2,276,000
$2,494,300
$2,494,300
$218,300
9.6%
Nonpersonal Service
$2,283,000
$3,446,500
$3,446,500
$1,163,500
51.0%
Agricultural Bus Srv Prg
$60,731,000
$64,105,800
$64,105,800
$3,374,800
5.6%
Personal Service
$9,306,000
$10,105,000
$10,105,000
$799,000
8.6%
Nonpersonal Service
$4,243,000
$6,520,700
$6,520,700
$2,277,700
53.7%
Maintenance Undistributed
$300,000
$0
$0
($300,000)
-100.0%
NY FarmNet/NY FarmLink
$200,000
$0
$0
($200,000)
-100.0%
Special Revenue-Federal (SRF)
$20,819,000
$20,819,000
$20,819,000
$0
0.0%
Special Revenue-Other (SRO)
$24,170,000
$24,979,900
$24,979,900
$809,900
3.4%
Fiduciary Funds (FID)
$1,693,000
$1,681,200
$1,681,200
($11,800)
-0.7%
Food & Nutrition Svcs - (SRF)
$8,803,000
$8,803,000
$8,803,000
$0
0.0%
Misc Operating Grants - (SRF)
$12,016,000
$12,016,000
$12,016,000
$0
0.0%
Animal Disease Ctrl - (SRO)
$75,000
$75,000
$75,000
$0
0.0%
Animal Population Ctrl - (SRO)
$1,342,000
$1,636,500
$1,636,500
$294,500
21.9%
Personal Service
$90,000
$90,700
$90,700
$700
0.8%
Nonpersonal Service
$1,208,000
$1,500,000
$1,500,000
$292,000
24.2%
Fringe
$44,000
$45,800
$45,800
$1,800
4.1%
Plant Industry - (SRO)
$730,000
$745,000
$745,000
$15,000
2.1%
Personal Service
$308,000
$314,300
$314,300
$6,300
2.0%
Nonpersonal Service
$272,000
$272,000
$272,000
$0
0.0%
Fringe
$150,000
$158,700
$158,700
$8,700
5.8%
Pet License Acct - (SRO)
$0
$100,000
$100,000
$100,000
100.0%
Nonpersonal Service
$0
$100,000
$100,000
$100,000
100.0%
Public Service - (SRO)
$322,000
$322,000
$322,000
$0
0.0%
Personal Service
$193,000
$192,600
$192,600
($400)
-0.2%
Nonpersonal Service
$35,000
$35,000
$35,000
$0
0.0%
Fringe
$94,000
$94,400
$94,400
$400
0.4%