Education Department
The enacted budget makes the following changes to the Executive Budget (analysis as of 4/2/2007):
- Reduces the department’s All Funds budget by $5 million; $1.995 million of this cut is in the department’s overall personal service appropriation.
- Reduces the maintenance undistributed appropriation in the Elementary, Middle, Secondary and Continuing Education program by $5 million including $1.995 million from the personal service appropriation and $3.075 million from the non-personal service appropriation (most of this cut is in the appropriation for contractual services). This appropriation was to fund a new “Enhanced Accountability Plan” which would have employed 77 new FTEs. We estimate this cut will reduce the number of new FTEs for this new program to 57. The impact of this cut should be clarified at Statewide Labor Management.
The Senate recommends (analysis as of March 16, 2007):
· Reducing the Elementary, Middle, Secondary and Continuing Education Program by $19 million in a maintenance undistributed appropriation. This reduction included $6.9 million from the MU personal service funding and $12.1 million from the MU non personal service appropriation. This MU was related to an accountability initiative and 77 new FTEs which are not funded in the Senate’s budget.
The Executive Budget recommends (analysis as of January 31, 2007):
A FY 2007-08 workforce of 3,174. This is an increase of 97 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
Elementary, Middle and Secondary – General Fund
0
+77
Higher Education and the Professions – SR Other
-3
+6
Cultural Education – SR Other
0
+7
VESID
0
+7
- The total appropriation for Personal Service is $212.3 million, an increase of 16.9%
- An All Funds increase of $43.5, (+8.4%) from SFY 2006-07
- The 77 FTE increase in the Elementary, Middle and Secondary program is tied to the Governor’s accountability initiatives. There is an additional $20 million in the Maintenance Undistributed appropriation for this program $7.7 million of which is for personal services. This initiative includes “Enhanced Accountability Plan” which will establish improvement targets for school districts and will include an enhanced education accountability system established by the Regents. “Promoting Strong Leadership” which would require the Regents to assess the effectiveness of school superintendents and principals.
- Increased the appropriation for personal service in the Vocational Rehabilitation account by $20.8 million. This is an increase of 34.5 percent over the FY 2006-07 appropriation which is significantly larger than is necessary to fund 7 new FTEs. This discrepancy should be clarified at statewide agency labor management and an explanation should be sought for the purpose of the increased personal services funding.
- Reduced by $20 million the Special Revenue-Other appropriation for the Cultural Education program. This $20 million Maintenance Undistributed appropriation was for projects to enhance the displays at the Museum, Archives and State Library. The 2006-07 appropriation of $20 million was re-appropriated.
- The Executive Budget shows that the State Education Department employed an estimated 467 employees under consultant contracts in SFY 2006-07 at an estimated cost of $30.3 million or an average cost of $64,794 per consultant contract employee. It is estimated that the number of employees employed under consultant contracts will decrease to 371 employees in SFY 2007-08, a decrease of 96 contract employees (a 21% decrease). Consultant contract employees will be paid $17.6 million in SFY 2007-08 or an average cost of $47,330 per consultant contract employee, a 27% decrease from the average cost in SFY 2006-07. The purpose and use of these contract employees and whether they can be replaced by state employees should be clarified at statewide labor management.
Education Department Program Details-State Operations Enacted Proposed Enacted Change in Percent Program 2006-07 Budget 2007-08 Budget 2007-08 Budget Appropriation Change All Funds $519,349,900 $562,810,500 $557,810,500 $38,460,600 7.4% General Fund $44,263,000 $64,891,000 $59,891,000 $15,628,000 35.3% Special Revenue-Fed $286,495,500 $314,685,100 $314,685,100 $28,189,600 9.8% Special Revenue-Other $164,347,400 $156,053,400 $156,053,400 ($8,294,000) -5.0% Internal Service $24,244,000 $27,181,000 $27,181,000 $2,937,000 12.1% Personal Services $181,578,946 $220,036,900 $218,111,900 $36,532,954 20.1% Office Mgmt Svcs Prog $56,527,000 $64,753,000 $64,753,000 $8,226,000 14.6% Personal Service $9,973,000 $10,327,400 $10,327,400 $354,400 3.6% Regular $9,971,400 $9,971,400 Temporary Service $178,000 $178,000 Holiday/overtime compensation $178,000 $178,000 Nonpersonal Service $7,501,000 $7,478,600 $7,478,600 ($22,400) -0.3% Supplies and materials $356,200 $356,200 Travel $178,000 $178,000 Contractual services $4,095,400 $4,095,400 Equipment $1,246,400 $1,246,400 Fringe benefits $1,900,000 $1,602,600 $1,602,600 ($297,400) -15.7% Special Revenue-Other $23,500,000 $30,146,000 $30,146,000 $6,646,000 28.3% Internal Service Fund $15,553,000 $16,801,000 $16,801,000 $1,248,000 8.0% Combined Gifts, Grants & Bequests Acct (SRO) $1,800,000 $7,800,000 $7,800,000 $6,000,000 333.3% Personal Service $280,000 $280,000 Regular $280,000 $280,000 Nonpersonal Service $7,520,000 $7,520,000 Supplies and materials $28,000 $28,000 Contractual services $7,380,000 $7,380,000 Equipment $112,000 $112,000 Indirect Cost Recovery Acct (SRO) $21,700,000 $22,346,000 $22,346,000 $646,000 3.0% Personal Service $9,000,000 $11,396,500 $11,396,500 $2,396,500 26.6% Regular $10,726,100 $10,726,100 Temporary Service $223,500 $223,500 Holiday/overtime compensation $446,900 $446,900 Nonpersonal Service $11,250,000 $10,949,500 $10,949,500 ($300,500) -2.7% Supplies and materials $670,400 $670,400 Travel $223,400 $223,400 Contractual services $4,916,100 $4,916,100 Equipment $1,340,800 $1,340,800 Fringe benefits $4,127,000 $3,798,800 $3,798,800 ($328,200) -8.0% Maintenance Undist.<