Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services

The 21 day amendments to the Executive Budget make the following changes (analysis as of February 14, 2008):

• Increases the Personal Services appropriations in the following programs:
  • Executive Direction (+$800,000)
  • Institutional Services (+$415,000)

• Increases Non-personal Services, supplies and materials appropriations in the following programs:
  • Executive Direction (+$700,000)
  • Institutional Services (+$1.3 million)

This results in an overall agency appropriation of $135.38 million, an increase of $45.5 million from the SFY 2007-08 enacted budget.

The Executive Budget recommends (analysis as of January 31, 2008):

A FY 2008-09 workforce of 1,010, an increase of 20 from the adjusted FTE level for FY 2007-08.  The following chart identifies adjustments in the current fiscal year’s 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):

• The increase of 20 FTEs reflects:
  • An additional 11 FTEs in the Executive Direction program for the additional personnel need to administer and implement a community residential program expansion, Compulsive Gambling Prevention expansion, enhanced program evaluation capabilities and the establishment of a multi-year program to develop and deliver training programs to enhance competencies of professionals in addictions and compulsive gambling fields; including the creation of a compulsive gambling credentialing initiative.  According to the Assembly $300,00 is appropriated for $300,000 to expand the Compulsive Gambling Prevention Programs and another $300,000 for a compulsive gambling credentialing initiative.

• An additional 9 FTEs appear to be associated with the expansion of the Kingsboro ATC swing bed detoxification system to Ward ATC and enhance clinical staffing to address more complex client needs at the ATCs.  According to the Assembly, $200,000 is added for the Ward ATC and $200,000 for enhanced clinical staffing. 

• The total appropriation for Personal Service is $9.3 million, a 15.2% increase from SFY 2007-08.  Most of this increase ($24.4 million) reflects the inclusion of employee fringe benefits in the OASAS budget.

• An All Funds increase of $42.3 million, (47%) from SFY 2006-07.  Most of this increase reflects technical adjustments associated with the restructuring of Medicaid resources and the inclusion of employee fringe benefits in the OASAS budget.  In most cases this involves a decrease in the General Fund support for OASAS programs which are now supported by a new Mental Hygiene Program Fund Account which reflects Medicaid funding for the Office’s programs.

• According to the Assembly, the budget includes $200,000 for implementation of Jonathan’s Law, and $100,000 for administering the costs related to the opening of community beds.

• OASAS employed an estimated 26 employees under consultant contracts in SFY 2007-08 at an estimated cost of $3,357,000 or an average cost of $129,115 per consultant contract employee.  It is estimated that $3.5 million will be spent on consultant contracts in SFY 2008-09 for 27 employees at a cost of $129,630 per consultant employee.

• The Capital budget provides $2 million in bonding authority to renovate ATCs.

• Article VII legislation would make permanent OASAS’ responsibility for programs for compulsive gambling.