FY 1997 Appropriations Report - Commerce and Revenue
Commerce and Revenue
New Committee
The Legislature changed the Business, Labor, Agriculture, and
Environmental Quality Committee by moving Agriculture to the Natural
Resources Committee, Environmental Quality to the newly named
Transportation and Environmental Quality Committee, and adding the Tax
Commission. The new committee is named Commerce and Revenue. These
and other changes are designed to increase the amount of time devoted to
examining capital facilities.
Funding Increase
Appropriation of total General and Uniform School Fund has
increased by 3.27 percent. This takes funding from $44,928,400 to $46,395,400 in
these critical state funds. Total funding from all sources is $131,113,300.
Budget Highlights by Department
Alcoholic Beverage Control
The Legislature added $162,000 in one-time Liquor Control Funds to purchase warehouse
equipment: scissor lift, 8 24-volt pallet jacks, cherry
picker, push-pull, fork lift clamp, and six regular pallet jacks.
The Legislature added $46,000 in one-time Liquor Control Funds to purchase 17 Pentium class
personal computers to replace aged and
inadequate equipment.
The Legislature appropriated an additional $43,600 in Liquor Control Funds to pay for a 4
percent COLA for Type III package agencies.
The Legislature eliminated the Citizens' Council on Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Supplemental
The Legislature added $32,000 in Liquor Control Funds to FY 1996 to help pay Moab store rent.
Commerce
.
The Legislature added $82,000 from the General Fund Restricted - Commerce Service Fund for
the Architects Education program.
The Legislature added $27,900 from the General Fund Restricted - Commerce Service Fund to
pay for an additional Licensing Technologist
for the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing.
To implement House
Bill 9, "Endowment Care Cemetery Amendments," the Legislature subtracted
$600 in General Fund Restricted - Commerce Service Fund.
To implement House
Bill 414, "Franchise Act for Vehicle Dealers," the Legislature added $32,800
in General Fund Restricted - Commerce Service Fund.
To implement Senate Bill 42, "Motor Carrier Deregulation," the Legislature subtracted $138,600
in General Fund Restricted - Commerce
Service Fund.
Supplemental
The Legislature appropriated $98,000 from the General Fund Restricted - Commerce Service
Fund in FY 1996 for building inspector training.
Employment Security
To implement House
Bill 63, "Employment Security Act Amendments," the Legislature added $124,000
in Employment Security Trust Funds.
Industrial Commission
The Legislature added $48,400 from the General Fund to pay for an additional
Programmer/Analyst III.
The Legislature added $10,000 from the General Fund to pay for major software program
maintenance.
The Legislature added $35,000 in General Fund to the base budget for computer replacements.
The Legislature added $12,000 in one-time General Fund for computer replacements.
The Legislature added $20,000 in one-time General Fund for new LAN Servers.
The Legislature increased the appropriation for safety programs from the General Fund
Restricted-Workforce Safety Fund from the original
estimate of $530,400 to $1,000,000, added four FTEs and this intent
statement:
It is the intent of the Legislature that the appropriation from
GFR-Workplace Safety be spent one-third for Consultation,
one-third for Media, and one-third for Other Safety Programs.
To implement Senate Bill 294, "Utah Antidiscriminatory Act Amendments," the Legislature added
$42,600 in General Fund for an
additional FTE.
Supplemental
In the Second Special Session, the Legislature made a one-time appropriation of $49,000 from
the General Fund for contracted safety
programs.
Insurance
The Legislature added $40,000 in General Fund for an additional LAN Administrator.
The reduction in funding to
the Department is due to the passage of House Bill 305, "Health System Improvement Act", 1995 General Session.
In response, the Legislature eliminated funding for the Comprehensive Health
Insurance Pool. Current non-lapsing fund balances are expected to maintain the
program through the transition period.
Tax
Commission
Paper costs have increased dramatically and the Legislature appropriated an additional $34,000 in
General Fund to help.
The Legislature appropriated an additional $300,000 in General Fund to pay for increased data
processing costs.
The Legislature appropriated an additional $37,800 from Dedicated Credits to pay for another
FTE in the Motor Vehicle Enforcement clerical
staff.
The Tax Commission wants to modernize by reengineering, and automating all major functions.
This should result in fewer FTEs for the
Commission and increased collections for the State. It is an expensive
($20-$30 million) multi-year program called UTAX. They have already
received funding to develop a plan. They hope to fund the program
through "benefits based funding". This means that they will be given
permission to use increased revenues and expense savings to pay for the
modernization. To that end the Legislature passed the following intent:
It is the intent of the Legislature that:
1. The Tax Commission may contract with private vendors to
develop and implement the Tax Commission modernization project.
2. Using appropriated funds the Tax Commission will develop a
detailed modernization plan. Once the detailed plan is complete
and prior to implementation, the Tax Commission will present the
plan to the Interim Executive Appropriations Committee.
3. The Tax Commission may use revenues collected as a result of
the modernization project, that would not have been collected but
for the modernization project, to pay costs directly related to the
modernization project.
4. The Tax Commission will provide an annual report to the
Governor and the Legislature of the revenues generated as a result
of the modernization project that would not have been collected but
for the project, and the expenses incurred that are directly related
to the project.
Supplemental
The Legislature appropriated $1,300,000 from the General Fund Restricted - Sales and Use Tax
Administrative Fees Account for UTAX
in FY 1996 and added this intent:
It is the intent of the legislature that the $1,300,000 appropriated
from the General Fund Restricted- Sales and Use Tax
Administrative Fees Account for UTAX shall be non-lapsing.
To implement House
Bill 249, "Recycling Market Development Zones," the Legislature added $12,000
in General Fund.
To implement House
Bill 461, "Tax Law Amendments," the Legislature added $50,000 in General
Fund.
To implement House
Bill 423, "Application of Law Enforcement Salary Change," the Legislature
added $76,300 in Uniform School Fund.
To implement Senate Bill 11," Public Safety Retirement Interest," the Legislature added $300 in
General Fund and $700 in Dedicated Credits.
Utility Regulation
The Legislature appropriated an additional $30,000 in General Fund to the Public Service
Commission for LAN maintenance.
For information about the LFA home page call Marlowe Dayley (801)
538-1034
or send email to:
mdayley@le.state.ut.us