Date: 01/20/2010
Final
Joint Budget Committee Briefing
COMMITTEE ON JOINT BUSINESS AFFAIRS & LABOR
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01:34 PM -- Joint Budget Committee Briefing
The committee was called to order by Senator Tochtrop. Members of the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) came to the table to brief the committee. Committee members were provided a summary of 2010-11 JBC budget briefings (Attachment A). Documents related to the briefings may also be accessed at http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/jbc/briefing.htm.
Representative Ferrandino, member of the JBC, began the briefing by discussing the Governor's Office of Information Technology (OIT). He described the Office's budget and sources of funding. He noted that the increase in FTE and budget is due to consolidation of information technology (IT) staff from other departments pursuant to Senate Bill 08-155. He noted that there is a corresponding reduction in FTE and budget in those departments. Representative Ferrandino explained that OIT represents the largest portion of the Governor's Office.
Representative Ferrandino responded to committee questions, including a question from Representative Balmer about whether the FTE swap was 1 for 1. Representative Ferrandino explained that the consolidation of IT staff resulted in an FTE reduction of 10 percent overall.
01:38 PM
Next, Representative Ferrandino talked about the Department of Labor and Employment. He reminded the committee that the department gets no General Fund money and is mostly cash funded. He clarified that the FTE reduction shown for the department is due to consolidation of IT staff under OIT. Representative Ferrandino talked about the solvency of the unemployment trust fund, saying the department would discuss that issue further during its briefing.
01:40 PM
Representative Ferrandino spoke next about the Department of Personnel and Administration (DPA), saying it receives a very small amount of General Fund -- 0.1 percent -- and most of its budget consists of funds reappropriated from other departments. He explained that FTE is staying flat because the department's IT staff moved to OIT in the last fiscal year. Representative Ferrandino explained that some issues have been raised around total compensation and fleet and commuter vehicles. He responded to a question from Senator Williams regarding fleet vehicles. Representatives Ferrandino and Pommer responded to a question posed by Representative Middleton about negotiations around employee benefits.
01:45 PM
Representative Gagliardi asked for further information about commuter vehicles, which Representative Ferrandino provided.
Representative Ferrandino next spoke about the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), saying DORA gets very little General Fund -- only about 0.02 percent. He pointed out the reduction in FTE due to the OIT consolidation. He described conversations related to the premium insurance tax and whether Pinnacol should be subject to that tax.
Representative Balmer commented on moneys spent on television advertisements for consumer outreach, saying that money should be redirected for other purposes. He also asked about DORA calendars and the funding for the calendars. Representative Ferrandino responded to Representative Balmer's comments and questions.
01:50 PM
Conversation between Representative Balmer and Representative Ferrandino on the Consumer Education and Outreach Program ensued. Representative Pommer weighed in on this conversation as well, saying DORA is implementing a law passed in a previous legislative session. Senator Foster commented on the number of constituents who are concerned about consumer fraud. Committee conversation on this issue continued.
01:56 PM
Senator Tochtrop thanked the JBC members for their work in difficult budget times.