JOINT APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

Standard Budget:     $25,000.00

Priority #: 1     Funding for landfills & options to modify revenue streams for LUST.

Pursuant to 2013 Budget Bill the committee is to review and act on the November 15, 2013 report and recommendations of the Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Interim Committee regarding long-term funding for landfills and options to modify the revenue streams supporting the leaking underground storage tank (LUST) program.

Priority #: 2     Wyoming public employees' retirement, insurance and compensation.

Review of various plans, including but not limited to Fireman A and B, and Highway Patrol and Game Warden plan; consideration of contribution levels in light of assumed investment performance and mortality rates; and consideration of potential to consolidate plans. The Committee will assess opportunities to expand the potential participants in the state's Group Health Insurance Program, e.g., expansion to other employees of political subdivisions.  Review long-term market comparisons to state employee compensation.

Priority #: 3     Receive reports and review legislatively designated investment statutes

Review parameters of permissible investments and investment levels of permanent funds, and use of permanent funds as loans to promote economic development.  Review shall include long term costs to income and risk analysis of large loans. The Committee is to receive numerous reports and propose legislation on identified issues related to the state budget.

Priority #: 4     Game and Fish and Department of Transportation budget review

Pursuant to 2013 HB 78, the Committee is to conduct a review of Game and Fish Department (report due August 1) and Department of Transportation (report due October 1) budgets.  The Committee will develop recommendations for future review and analysis of these budgets by JAC.

Priority #: 5     Review of major funds

The Committee will review major funds, including the Budget Reserve Account, Legislative Stabilization Reserve Account, Permanent Wyoming Mineral Trust Fund, Hathaway Student Scholarship Account, School Foundation Program, School Capital Construction Account, Common School Account, and Permanent Land Fund Holding Account in terms of appropriate levels of spending and savings, permanent versus intermediate savings, and revenue diversification.  The Committee will assess revenues and expenditures of the SFP and SCCA, including funding decisions outside of the school finance model, the regional cost adjustment and pursuant to statute, recommend K-12 external cost adjustment (ECA) level in November 2013. [Study deleted by Management council]

Priority #: 6 5     Miner's Hospital

The Committee will review issues associated with the Miner's Hospital including (i) payor of last resort; (ii) indirect effects on miner's hospital fund from the federal Affordable Care Act; (iii) contracts between service providers and Miner's Hospital board; and (iv) long term sustainability of program with the known revenue available for the program.

Priority #: 7 6     Community college major maintenance

The Committee will review and codify major maintenance space allocations, costs;  review opportunites for operations and maintenance funding; and review funding formula associated with community college major maintenance.

Priority #: 8 7     State government leased space

Review state government leased space in Cheyenne and statewide.  Develop recommendations on efforts associated with the construction of a state office building in conjunction with Capitol renovation plans.

Priority #: 9 8     Contact state agency directors and institutions.

The Committee will divide into four member subcommittees and review/visit state agency directors, institutions and facilities with potential exception budget requests, budget reductions, or capital construction budget requests.

Priority #  9 Agency Budget Review

The Committee will review proposed 2%, 4% and 6% budget cuts as submitted by the Community College Commission, WICHE, University of Wyoming, and UW-Medical Education, and proposed 2% budget cuts for the Courts. [Study added by Management Council]

Meeting dates:

The Committee plans on the following meeting dates:

June 27 and 28 in Riverton (#2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11)

July  in Cheyenne (Budget Reductions)

October 28 in Casper or via video conference (ECA, CREG)

November 18 and 19 in Cheyenne (#1, 4 - G&F, DOT; follow-up on prior meeting)

December 9-13 and 16-20 (Budget Hearings, final review of legislation)

January 13-17 and 20-24 (Budget Hearings, Mark-up)

Additionally the Committee is requesting that each of the three subcommittees be provided funds mileage and per diem for three days of meetings. , including salary, mileage and per diem. [Modified by Management Council]