The Sidney herald., 1961-01-04

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If appropriations remain within
the limits of the budget then the
burden will fall upon department
administrators to operate their re-
spective departments with the al
lOrted funds. We cannot, and with
your help = 1 will not, stand for
the program of supplemental ap-
preparation requests we have had
in the past wherein too many
cases, emergencies have been more
imagined than real.
When department people make
supplemental appropriation re-
quests in an amount approximate
ing the reduction in their budget
request by the preceding legisla-
ture, it appears that they intend
to spend what they wanted - the
legislature Notwithstanding. Ad-
ministrators in all departments of
state government must realize
that in money matters the legis-
lature = as representatives OF the
people = shall say this is what
You will spend = and no more.
Only In the case of a real = not
imagined or desired = emergency
should a department administra-
tor ask for funds over and above
mis- budget.
Under the budget as submitted
most departments will receive less
money than was appropriated by
the Both session of the legisla-
ture. In the past, budget requests
and ALLEGATION of funds have been
generally based upon appropria-
tions for each department by the
preceding Legislature. This raises
the assumption that all previous
appropriations were wisely spent
by all departments. This Just is
not true.
Examination of the fiscal poll
cieS of many departments reveals
that over-staffing has resulted in
dissipation of salary appropria-
tionS to the extent that we are
losing our best qualified personnel
because our salary scale is made
quate. Reduction of staffs of per
sonnet could provide money for in
creased salaries to our competent,
dedicated state employees with
little or no increase in appropri-
ation. The budget contemplates
such reduction in departmental
personnel with salary increases
for those retained in service.
In too many instances money
has been spent by administrators
for equipment and physical plant
which, while desirable in some
cases, has not been necessary. Of
tice equipment, training and lab
oratory equipment, automobiles
and highway machines have been
replaced while still highly use
able, apparently because of the
desire to have current models
The budget as submitted sharply
reduces the funds for such equip
1nent purchases.
IL is well that you and the peo-
pie of Montana know that trave.
expense of boards and commits
sions for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1859 amounted to ST.
641,469.00 THAT travel expense fol
the university system for the same
year was 1892, 913.OO; that trave
expense for the custodial instiu-
tions was 28,118.00; or a total o
travel expense for that fiscal yea
of $2,228,217.00.
For the two-year fiscal perioS
!, ending June 30,1960 the State De
partment spent an aggregate o
. $4, 38O,717.O0 in travel expense
Needless Ito say, the budget TO
: travel has been carefully Scruti
: nized and sharply reduced. Out o
: state travel has been reduced from
t 1882, 10000 to Sis ,095.00.
: Any talk about travel expenS
brings to mind the number of stat
vehicles travelling the highways @
5 Montana. Many of these vehicle
have the same point of origin an
: the same destination but becauS
Y of lack of haison between depart
mentS, or between Sudb-depart
e ments, each vehicle will carr
only one occupant. / discussed tn
S matter of a vehicle pool with IT'D
budget director who advised thu
e while the idea was excellent, a
e effective pool would require
e storage and service installation !
e order to control check-outs. Wit
. the shortage of funds it is nt
e feasible at this time to advocat
S construction of a storage garage
We have taken steps to cur
= some of this vehicle S by sharp
S ly reducing travel expense buc
G gets. l recommend that the legi:
IS lature take a good, long look
: vehciular operation by the depar
= ments and if you feel it advaI
tageous to the state that one o
: flee be given control over q
+ state owned automobiles, to
al checked out as required, legisl;
J. ton authorizing such control
d enacted. This would merely
J. stop-gap legislation, to be effe
l. tive only until a rigid car-po
1T program could be legislated.
IN During the past few years '
~ have had under way, In one d
Dr. a,artment or another, a build1l
ly program of considerable magr
in tude. Many of these buildin
IN were necessary; others were nj
ic to have, but l believe it is til
lie the legislature assumed compile