Arkansas Legislative Council PEER Review – August 6, 2009
Posted on August 6th, 2009
Date & Time: Wednesday, August 6, 2009 at 10:00 AM
Location: Room 171, State Capitol
Agenda: http://tr.im/vLCL
Attachments: http://tr.im/vKhK
This committee reviews matters pertaining to the financial operations and fiscal performances of state agencies, departments, and institutions, including but not limited to, program performance and evaluation, efficiency in the operation of agency programs and services, coordination of programs and services which require the expenditure of state funds, the stability and adequacy of the various fund and fund accounts of the state, and other matters pertaining to agency performance and accountability in the use of public funds may be referred to this committee. Matters pertaining to the organization, consolidation, merger, or abolishment of a state agency, board, commission, or program, and such other matters as maybe assigned by the Council.
1:35 pm – The first item is the revenue report. Gross General Revenues are down 4.4% from last year. The net availiable for distribution was down 4.6%
1:37 pm – Due to a $61,049,112.00 transfer from the Allotment Reserve Fund, the adjusted net availiable for distribution is up 11%.
1:39 pm – The cumulative deviation from DFA net general revenues available for distribution is $13.712 million below forcast. It should be noted that forcast was less than past forecasts.
1:42 pm – Current trends show that cigarette tax revenues are averaging $7.5 to $8 million above last year. It should be noted that Alcoholic Beverage Taxes are 2.6% below last year.
1:47 pm – Rep Davy Carter asked if there was any additional Allotment Reserve Funds that can be transferred.
1:49 pm – Senator Madison asked if any “replacement” effects have been calculated to account for impact of lottery ticket purchases will have on other purchases. There has been no calculations or estimation of the lottery impact on sales taxes.
1:53 pm – Overhead Democrat legislators grumbling about food tax decrease causing budget shortfalls. I find it amazing that when people out there are suffering from the bad economy and the state government is SPENDING MORE money than last year that anyone can feel like a tax cut on the poorest people in the state caused the budget problems. SPENDING is the damn problem. Thank you very much.
1:58 pm – I am wondering why last years data on the natural gas serverance tax has been left off the revenue report. The overall severance tax revenues are down 53.6%
2:02 pm – The Arkansas Disabilit Determination for Social Security has been asked by the Federal government to take on additional duties. There has been a Federal Appropriation Request of $2,533,692 to fund 31 additional employees. The scary part is if the federal government might dump the funding given the current situation.
2:06 pm – Currently reviewing contracts between state agencies. The Health Department is paying UAMS Department of Surgery the amount of $60,000.00 for a medical consultant in trauma system development to serve as a senior advisor to the State Health Officer / Health Department Directors. Since UAMS will be recieving a large amount of the Trauma Systems funds, this arrangement seems like a conflict of interest. Other providers for the trauma system should be concerned.
2:10 pm – The Minority Health Commission is paying the UAMS College of Health for a Medical Director for the commission to design and facililate Phase II of the Arkansas Racial and Ethnic Disparities Study and the Marianna Examination Health Survey. The total amount after review will be $730,200.00.
2:14 pm – If you are wondering where the “General Improvement Funds” are going see attachment K.1 here: http://tr.im/vKhK. The GIF expenditures is somewhat equivalent to what is known at the Federal level as “earmarks.” There are a lot of questions about HB1847 of 2007 which provided and additional $4.8 million above normal bugdet appropriations to the University of Arkansas System to the various institutions and entities of the UofA System for construction, renovation, maintenance, equipment and operational expenses.
2:24 pm – No questions or comments about the Budget Stabilization Trust report.
2:26 pm – The Emergency Purchases Report has been reviewed without question or comment.
2:28 pm – The Tobacco Settlement Summary of Income, Expenses and Balances Report has been reviewed without question or comment.
2:30 pm – The State Central Services Fund Reports has been reviewed without question or comment.
2:32 pm – Meeting adjourned.
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