Budget recommendations introduced
The Appropriations Committee heard testimony Feb. 1 on proposed adjustments to the state’s budget package. The state budget is structured on a two-year basis, with the budget passed in odd-numbered years and adjustments made during legislative sessions held in even-numbered years.
LB956 and LB957, introduced by Kearney Sen. Galen Hadley at the request of the governor, comprise the governor’s mid-biennium budget recommendations.
LB956, presented to the committee by state budget administrator Gerry Oligmueller, would make adjustments to appropriations for state operations, aid and construction programs in the current fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, as well as for the next fiscal year.
Oligmueller said the provisions would address an approximately $110 million budget gap that resulted from a downward revision in forecasted tax receipts and requests for additional appropriations from state agencies.
The bill’s recommendations would eliminate $87.5 million in carryover funds, he said, and overall appropriations for the biennium would be reduced by an additional $5.7 million.
LB957 would authorize several fund transfers, including:
• $26.3 million from the Cash Reserve Fund to the Nebraska Capital Construction Fund;
• $5.3 million from the Department of Motor Vehicles Cash Fund to the Vehicle Title and Registration System Replacement and Maintenance Cash Fund; and
• $500,000 from the Records Management Cash Fund to the Information Management Revolving Fund.
When asked by the committee about the state’s overall economic health, Oligmueller said the governor’s recommendations would place the state’s cash reserve at approximately 12 percent.
“As far as our cash position, I’d say that the National Association of State Budget Officers just completed its survey of the 50 states and Nebraska has the fourth highest rainy day fund as a percentage of spending,” he said.
No testimony was offered on the bills.
The committee also heard testimony on LB1092, introduced by Omaha Sen. Heath Mello.
Under the bill, any department, office, institution or expending agency that proposes changes to its appropriation for the biennium in progress would be required to file budget forms with the office of the Director of Administrative Services (DAS). Forms would have to be filed by Oct. 24 of each odd-numbered year.
In addition, DAS would be required to develop a certification form and procedure, to be included in each budget request, through which each department and agency would certify whether an administered program is an evidence-based program or practice. If not, the department or agency would be required to certify whether the program or practice is reasonably capable of becoming evidence based.
Mello said the bill would codify current practice into state law and enhance the state’s budget process. He said the proposal would eliminate late requests for deficit appropriations from state agencies and would provide lawmakers with a master list of all state programs for evaluation purposes.
“It provides a window for policy makers to ask more questions of state agencies and the budget process in the future,” Mello said.
Renee Fry, executive director of OpenSky Policy Institute, testified in support of the bill.
Fry said an institute in Washington State conducts meta-analysis to determine if the benefits of state programs are worth the cost. The institute works to determine what evidence-based practices would best achieve the state’s long-range goals, she said, and LB1092 could lead to such a practice in Nebraska.
“We think this is a great first step,” she said, “but we would like to see it taken even a step further.”
No one testified in opposition to LB1092 and the committee took no immediate action on any of the bills.
