Racing and Wagering Board

The Executive Budget recommends (analysis as of January 31, 2007):

A FY 2008-09 workforce of 136.  There is no change from the adjusted FTE level for FY 2007-08.  

• The total appropriation for Personal Service is $12.3 million, the same as last year.  While there is no overall change in the personal service funding every SRO account within every program shifted some of its personal service-regular funds to personal service-temporary service funds.  The purpose of this shift should be discussed with management.

• An All Funds increase of $250,000 (1%) from SFY 2007-08.  According to the Executive Budget Agency Presentation this increase reflects an increase in appropriation authority for contractual services (+$430,000).  According to the Assembly budget analysis $310,00 of this increase is specifically related to costs associated with funding for the Cornell Equine Drug Testing Program which is funded in the Regulation of Racing program.

• The State Racing and Wagering Board employed an estimated 17 FTE employees under consultant contracts in SFY 2007-08 at an estimated cost of $3 million or an average cost of $181,765 per FTE consultant contract employee.  It is estimated that there will not be an increase in funds or the number of FTE employees allocated for consultant contracts in SFY 2008-09.    This represents a 5% decrease in the cost of consultant contracts since SFY 2006-07.

• The following Regulation of Wagering (SRO) accounts had proposed increases in contractual service appropriations that appear to be offset by an equal decrease in the equipment appropriations:
  1. Bell Jar Collection Account (+$30,000); and
  2. Regulation of Indian Gaming (+$90,000).