Public Safety Agencies’ Legislative Budget Request Hearings

On Wednesday, October 31, 2007, this office attended hearings held by the Executive Office of the Governor, Office of Policy and Budget, where state agencies presented an overview of their Legislative Budget Requests (“LBRs”) for Fiscal Year (“FY”) 2008-2009 and addressed long range plans through FY 2012-2013.   The following hearings were attended and we have provided a brief overview of the activities that occurred in each. 

 

General Government

The General Government LBR Hearing included presentations by the agency budget directors for the following executive agencies: the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (“DBPR”), Department of Financial Services (“DFS”), Department of Lottery (“DOL”), Department of Management Services (“DMS”), and Department of Revenue (“DOR”). 

The DBPR is seeking an additional $10 million in funding for FY 2008-2009.  Its two priorities include improving its information technology system and establishing an in-house licensing system. 

The DFS is seeking additional funding in its financial accountability division and enforcement/fire safety division.  The DFS budget issues for 2008-2009 represent an approximate increase of 3.5% of the current year recurring budget of $205 million.

The number one DFS priority is to obtain an upgraded data center for an uninterruptible power supply.  The DFS is also seeking additional funding to investigate and prosecute insurance fraud, and for education and advocacy training. 

The DOL is requesting additional dollars to implement new scratch-off machines and increase its advertising efforts. 

The DMS priorities include dollars for capital improvements, aircraft maintenance, and contract managers for its inmate work release program.  Overall, the DMS budget reflects a 3.5% decrease from FY 2007-2008. 

The DOR budget request reflects a .03% decrease in general revenue from FY 2007-2008.  Its priorities include increases for upgraded technology systems, additional positions for property tax oversight and child support functions to secure federal matching grants. 

There was no public testimony or questions regarding the above agency presentations.

 

Environmental

The Environmental LBR Hearing included presentations by the agency budget directors for the following executive agencies:  Department of Environmental Protection (“DEP”), Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (“FWCC”), and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (“DACS”).  The Department of Citrus was not present, but it was noted that it is requesting a continuation budget.

The DEP is requesting $2.1 billion.  Its priorities include $23 million for energy diversity, $300 million for state land acquisition, and $200 million for the Florida Everglades.

The FWCC is requesting a $248 million budget, which reflects a $5.4 million increase from 2007-2008.  Law enforcement retention pay and land management were cited as the reasons for the funding increase.  The FWCC is also seeking additional funds for wildlife conservation.

The DACS is seeking a continuation budget request of $41.6 million in general revenue and $38.9 million in trust funds, reflecting a 2% increase from 2007-2008 that includes more law enforcement funding.  Also, the DACS’ two major priorities include $25 million for the farm-to-fuel program and trust fund dollars for the Northern Everglades.   

 

Health and Human Services

The Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget for Health and Human Services heard agency presentations on its LBRs and Long Range Program Plans for the following agencies:  Agency for Health Care Administration (“ACHA”), Agency for Persons with Disabilities (“APD”), Department of Children and Family Services (“DCF”), Department of Elder Affairs (“DOEA”), Department of Health (“DOH”) and Department of Veterans’ Affairs (“DVA”).

The 2008-2009 Legislative Budget Priorities for the DOEA are:

• Consolidate aging resource network as a single point of entry for all long-term care services
• Expand elder services network to fill service gaps
• Increase community alternatives to nursing home placement
• Optimize state spending on elder programs
• Develop a high-quality, accessible system for services for Florida seniors 

The budget request totals $405.6 million to serve approximately 341,719 elder Floridians and represents an overall increase of 6.15% from last year. The increase is $13.3 million in General Revenue and $10.2 million in various trust funds.

The Long Range Plan can be found on the Department’s Web site by clicking here. 

The 2008-2009 Legislative Budget Priorities for the DOH are:

• An automated Statewide Pharmacy System to replace a series of autonomous regional systems
• Maintain the current levels of vital school health services in all 67 counties
• Vital programs serving Florida’s women and children, including child nutrition,
  early identification and intervention of developmental problems in infants and toddlers
• The treatment of brain and spinal cord injury patients in the community with a savings far in excess of the program costs for institutional care

The Department’s Long Range Program Plan can be found at the Department’s Web site by clicking here. 

The 2008-2009 Legislative Budget Priorities for AHCA are:

• Physician Specialty Fee Increase (dermatologists, neurosurgeons, neurologists, orthopedists)
• A  dental fee rate increase for Medicaid reimbursement of 20%
  A home health rate increase of 5% for private duty nursing and personal care
  nursing survey staff rate increase
• Place holder to promote discussion on the expansion of Medicaid reform
   

AHCA’s Long Range Program can be found at its Web site by clicking here.

 

Transportation and Economic Development

The Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget for Transportation and Economic Development heard agency presentations on its LBRs and Long Range Program Plans for the following agencies; Agency for Workforce Innovation (“AWI”), Department of Community Affairs (“DCA”), Division of Emergency Management (“DEM”), Department of State (“DOS”), Department of Transportation (“DOT”), Public Service Commission (“PSC”); and the Executive Office of the Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development.

The DEM’s Legislative Budget Priorities are:

• Recovery, mitigation and management of 20 currently-open. federally-declared disasters in the state – $477 million
• Operation of the State Logistics Resource Center – $2.1 million
• Hurricane shelter retrofit – $3 million
• Federal and state funding for local emergency management needs – $30.8 million 
• Completion of major initiatives begun in 2006:
• Special Needs Shelter Generators – $51.5 million
   

New Budget Initiatives:

• Statewide satellite communications system upgrade – $1.1 million 

The total Division funding request for FY 2008-09 is $560 million and will continue a General Revenue reduction of $2.2 million implemented by the Legislative Special Session in September.

The DCA Legislative Budget Priorities are:

Fixed Capital Outlay Issues:

• Florida Communities Trust/Florida Forever  $66 million (Trust Fund (“TF”)
• Community Development Black Grant Program $35 million (TF)
• Weatherization Assistance $6.3 million (TF)
• Low Income Emergency Home Repair Program $3 million (TF) 

Legislative Budget Request Operating Issues:

• Technical assistance to local governments $1.2 million (TF)
• Keys land litigation $129,730 (General Revenue (“GR”)
• Notice of Intent legal ads$232,383 (GR)
• Florida Building Code Outreach $140,000 (TF)
• Front Porch Florida $1.99 million (GR)
• Regional Planning Council $3.3 million (GR)
• Hurricane-resistant construction testing and standards development $900,000 (TF)
• Building Commission travel increase $70,000 (TF)
• Community development block grant disaster supplemental administration/technical assistance $281,081 (TF)
• Springs Protection Initiatives $100,000 (TF)
• Waterfronts Florida Initiative $178,000 (TF)
• Manufactured building monitoring/investigation $100,000
   

The total budget for the DCA is $190,822,804, with 225 total positions requested. About 50 percent is funded with Federal Trust Funds, 42% with State Trust Funds, 4.4% with General Revenue (recurring) and 2.9% General Revenue (non-recurring). The Department’s Long Range Program Plan can be found on its Web site at the very bottom of the page by clicking here.

The Executive Office of the Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development’s budget request for 2008 is a continuation of the prior year (stating there is not a requested increase in the total amount from what it had requested last year). There are, however, a few changes from what was actually received and what is being requested, such as:

• An increase to Enterprise Florida of $3 million
• A decrease in the request from the Economic Development Transportation Projects from $13,350,000 to $10,000,000
• Increased economic development tools for QTI around a $5.1 million increase 
• Decreased innovation incentives from $250 million to $150 million

The DOS Legislative Budget Priorities are:

• A modernization study for the Division of Corporations
• Information technology replacement for outdated servers and tape storage units
• Security for the RA Gray building where all state archives are stored (full-time uniformed law enforcement officers)
• Consolidation of support services (no fiscal impact)
• Legal expenses for elections
• Add additional staffing for the conservation of lands
• Modest increase in all grant programs (historical, cultural, library) 

The DOS budget totals almost $127 million with slightly over $95 million from the General Revenue Fund and $31 million from Trust Funds. The DOS’ Long Range Program Plan can be found on its Web site along the right side of the page by clicking here.

Also on Wednesday, October 31, 2007, all of Florida’s public safety agencies met to make their annual Legislative Budget Requests (LBRs) for FY 2008-2009.  Click on the links below to view presentations from the following agencies:

• Florida Department of Law Enforcement
• Florida Department of Juvenile Justice
• Florida Department of Corrections
• Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
• Department of Legal Affairs

The Justice Administrative Commission did not submit a presentation because it is requesting a continuation budget with no additional revenue. 

There was no public testimony or questions regarding the above agency presentations.

 

Should you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact this office.