Department of Transportation
The enacted budget makes the following changes to the Executive Budget (analysis as of 4/2/ 2007):
- Made no changes to the department’s State Operations budget.
- Decreases the contractual services appropriation by $1 million in the Engineering Services Non-Federally Aided Highway Capital Projects fund.
- Extends the sunset of the State DOT single audit program by one year.
The Senate and Assembly recommend (analysis as of March 16, 2007):
Senate:
· Proposes a Capital Projects decrease of $350,000 in contractual services for the Engineering Services program which is part of an overall $1 million decrease in various department non-personal service appropriations.
· Extends DOT single audit program for one year but does not make it permanent as proposed by Governor
Assembly: Extends DOT single audit program for one year but does not make it permanent as proposed by Governor
The Executive Budget recommends (analysis as of January 31, 2007):
A FY 2007-08 workforce of 10,360. This is an increase of 411 FTEs from the adjusted FTE level for FY 2006-07. The following chart identifies adjustments in current fiscal years FTEs along with the recommended differences in FY 2007-08 FTEs by program (if the FTE’s are the same the program is not listed):
Program
FY 2006-07 Adjustment
FY 2007-08 Difference
Design & Construction
0
311
Preventive Maintenance
1
100
- The total appropriation for Personal Service is $18.6 million, an increase of 6.7%
- An All Funds State Operations increase of $1.6 million, (3.4%) from SFY 2006-07 and an All Funds Capital Projects increase of $107.473million (2.5%).
- An increase of 108 engineering positions to enhance DOT’s in-house engineering capabilities for design, construction inspection and related capital program support and a reduction in the Department’s reliance on consultant engineers. An additional increase of 203 engineering positions to support delivery of the enhanced capital program. The remaining 100 positions reflect anticipated Department needs for the proposed transfer of Interstate 84 operating responsibility from the NYS Thruway Authority and implementation of the Workzone Safety Act of 2005.
- An estimated 1,148 employees employed under consulting contracts, which is an increase of 50 contract employees from SFY 2006-07 or less than 5%. The average cost per contract employee appears to increase by 5% from $173,599 to $182,483. The discrepancy between the stated policy to reduce the use of consulting engineers and a modest increase in employees under consulting contracts may be due to general increases related to Transportation Bond Act funds. This issue as well as the purpose and use of these contract employees and whether they can be replaced by state employees should be clarified at statewide labor management
- Proposes a $17.8 million, or 2.7% increase in the Engineering Services Non-Federally Aided Highway Capital Projects fund. The budget now shows the split between how much of this $681.5 million appropriation is spent on State employees (personal services) and consultant engineers (maintenance undistributed). $249.8 million will be spent on personal service appropriations for State employees, $193.324 million will be spent on non-personal service (it is unclear whether this funding covers non-personal service costs for State employees or for both state employees and consultant engineers), and $238.429 million will be spent in a maintenance undistributed appropriation which could be used for state employees and consultant engineers (although we believe it will be used for primarily consultant engineers). How this funding is split between State employees and consultant engineers should be clarified at statewide labor management.
- Proposes legislation to permanently extend the single audit program for recipients of State transportation assistance. PEF opposed a similar proposal last year and a one-year extension was given to allow DOT to issue the required reports
- Proposes legislation to allow collection of motor carrier fees in conformance with the Unified Carrier Registration Plan established under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act. Enactment of this bill will result in the continued collection of these fees necessary to support NYSDOT's motor carrier safety activities. Absent these changes, NYSDOT will lose over $4 million annually in motor carrier revenues, and motor carriers located in New York State will be required to register in another state in order to legally engage in interstate commerce.
- According to the Senate and Assembly analysis, the Executive budget projects a $280 million deficit for the final two years of the DOT capital plan.
Department of Transportation Program Details-State Operations Enacted Proposed Enacted Change in Percent Program 2006-07 Budget 2007-08 Budget 2007-08 Budget Appropriation Change All Funds 46,817,000 48,386,000 48,386,000 1,569,000 3.4% Special Revenue-Federal 14,577,000 15,919,000 15,919,000 1,342,000 9.2% Special Revenue-Other 32,240,000 32,467,000 32,467,000 227,000 0.7% Personal Services 17,508,000 18,680,000 18,680,000 1,172,000 6.7% Contractual Services 317,226,000 316,226,000 Passgr&Frght Trans Pgm 34,193,000 33,959,000 33,959,000 (234,000) -0.7% Special Revenue Federal (SRF) 14,177,000 15,519,000 15,519,000 1,342,000 9.5% Special Revenue Other (SRO) 20,016,000 18,440,000 18,440,000 (1,576,000) -7.9% Federal Aviation Admin Planning Acct - (SRF) 1,060,000 1,060,000 1,060,000 0 0.0% Maintenance Undistributed 1,060,000 1,060,000 1,060,000 0 0.0% FTA Program Mgmt Acct - (SRF) 5,714,000 5,770,000 5,770,000 56,000 1.0% personal service 1,664,000 1,681,000 1,681,000 17,000 1.0% nonpersonal service 245,000 253,000 253,000 8,000 3.3% fringe benefits 805,000 836,000 836,000 31,000 3.9% Maintenance Undistributed 3,000,000 3,000,000 3,000,000 0 0.0% Motor Carrier Safety Acct - (SRF) 7,003,000 8,289,000 8,289,000 1,286,000 18.4% personal service 2,647,000 3,049,000 3,049,000 402,000 15.2% nonpersonal service 707,000 1,362,000 1,362,000 655,000 92.6% fringe benefits 1,280,000 1,509,000 1,509,000 229,000 17.9% maintenance undistributed 2,369,000 2,369,000 2,369,000 0 0.0% Metropolitan Mass Transp Operating Assist Acct - (SRO) 3,755,000 3,854,000 3,854,000 99,000 2.6% personal service 2,274,000 2,321,000 2,321,000 47,000 2.1% Regular $2,314,000 $2,314,000 Temporary Service $7,000 $7,000 Nonpersonal Service $1,481,000 $1,533,000 $1,533,000 $52,000 3.5% Supplies and materials $33,000 $33,000 Travel $250,000 $250,000 Contractual services 332,000 $100,000 $100,000 ($232,000) -69.9% Equipment $20,000 $20,000 Fringe Benefits 1,149,000 $1,051,000 $1,051,000 ($98,000) -8.5% Indirect costs $79,000 $79,000 Public Transport Systems Operating Assist Acct - (SRO) 2,463,000 2,525,000 2,525,000 62,000 2.5% personal service 1,305,000 1,330,000 1,330,000 25,000 1.9% Regular $1,329,000 $1,329,000