Oct. 11: Joint Budget transcript

Arkansas Legislative Council Joint Budget Committee

October 11, 2022

 

Rice Members, we’re going to start the Legislative Council Joint Budget Committee budget hearings. We are first going to start with seat selection. If you will, listen, be looking at the board to see what seat you want to be at. The one you’re setting in may not be the one you get, so be prepared to move. Staff will come around and put the names in front and you may need to vacate. I’m going to ask if you will start us off. 

 

Anderson (BLR) Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On the screens, you’ll see the numbers of the seats. And as they are selected, they’re going to get blacked out. So you can see which ones are open when we call your name. This is done by seniority. The first, the first on the list is Representative Meeks. And if you all yell out your seat number, we’ll take the name tag to that seat and then record it. So Representative Meeks, 63. Senator Bledsoe, 25. Representative Jean, 62. Senator Elliott, 22. And Representative Love, Representative Love, 15. Senator Teague, senator Teague, 85. Representative Murdoch, 14. Senator Chesterfield, 23. Representative Shepherd, 74. Senator Rapert, 87. Senator Rapert’s 87. Representative Deffenbaugh, 70. Senator Flowers. Senator Flowers is 53. Representative Eubanks, 71. Senator Irvin, 52. Representative Fielding, number 10. Senator Dismang, 80. Representative Cozart, 39. Senator Sample, 82. Representative Lowery, 45. Senator Caldwell. 86 for Senator Caldwell. Representative Magie, 75. Senator English, 51. Representative Dotson, 67. Senator Ingram, 81. Representative Miller,  61. Senator Hendren, 24. Representative Jett, 64. Representative Jett is 64. Senator Stubblefield, 93. Representative Womack, 38. Senator Hickey, 83. Representative Holcomb, 72. Senator Hester, 50. Representative Charlene Fite, 69. Senator Flippo, 89. Representative Whitaker, 47. Senator Blake Johnson, 88. Representative Hillman, 40. Senator Garner, 60. Representative Deborah Ferguson, 46. Senator Wallace, 49. Representative Payton, 90. Senator Davis. Okay. So for Senator Wallace, we need to block out 49 on the screen. Thank you. Senator Breanne Davis, 91. Representative Hodges, 42. Senator Hill, 84. Representative Eaves, 73. Senator Ballinger, 59. Representative McNair, 65. Senator Mark Johnson, 58. Representative Ladyman, 37. Senator Leding, 54. We were on Representative Gray– 58– I’m sorry, Representative Gray. 68 for Representative Gray. Senator Pitsch, 33. Representative Tosh, 41. Senator Hammer, 92. That’s all the senators. Representative Beck, 18. Representative Kenneth Ferguson, 48. Representative Boyd, 34. Representative Lanny Fite, 66. Representative Flowers, 21 Representative Speaks, 35. Representative– yes, ma’am, 43. Representative Vaught, 43. Representative Richmond, 44. Representative Fortner, 36. Represent Cavenaugh, 13. Representative Gazaway, 20. Representative Coleman. Coleman, 11– 17? 17 for Representative Coleman. Representative Penzo, 56. Representative Bragg, 16. Representative Wooten– I didn’t hear you, sir– 19. Representative Scott. 28 for Representative Scott. Representative Garner, 29. Representative Lee Johnson, 12. Representative Evans, 11. Representative McCullough, 30. Representative Springer is 27. Representative Milligan is at number 5. That’s all of them, Mr. Chairman. 

 

Rice Okay, members, if you’ll find your seat. And if you have any problem, if you’ll come up to the desk, we can get you a seat number if you failed to hear. Members, in your packet, there is a list of subcommittees if you’ve had a chance to look at that. Also, the Special Language subcommittee will meet at 1:30 in Mac B today. If you’ll apprize yourself of the list. And it also shows Personnel, both for Senate and House. And then we have in your packet also a one-page summary of all of the pre-session budget hearings, the days, the ones that will be taken up that day. If you’ve got any questions, feel free to see the chair or staff, and we’ll answer that. Also in your packet is the rules. If you have any discussion on that, this would be the time to do it. Members, in the past, I’m not sure, the last time and maybe the one before, and there is a– what is that, rule 5? You want to cover it? I’m going to let that be covered, the change that we had done before. And I think you can give some background reason that was originally in there. 

 

Anderson (BLR) Yes, sir. The rules are in your packet. And it was identified on page 2, Rule 5A requires when the presentations are being given that agency personnel sit outside. This was originally done in room 171 years and years ago because there wasn’t room to bring the agency personnel out. We made that aware to the, to the– and that’s the committee’s prerogative if they want to keep that rule or not. 

 

Rice Okay. Members, if anything in your rules, you need discussed, now’s the time to bring that up. If not, we’ll accept striking 5Aand recognize my co-chair Wardlaw. 

 

Wardlaw No, sir, you took care of it. I just wanted to make sure we struck 5A out of the rules. And members, if anybody has any questions, I can explain that for you. I’m getting some looks, so I’ll go ahead and explain it. In the past, we met in room 171. Because of that room– oh, okay. All right. Well, then, I don’t know why they’re looking at me like that. But we’re going to allow the agencies–

 

Rice Do we have questions? Okay. Senator, Elliott, you’re recognized. 

 

Rice There we go. 

 

Elliott Go. All right. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to get a quick clarification about the rule. Did you say that we will– it will be automatic that everybody will be able to come in or we’ll decide each one. I thought I heard maybe the latter, who should come in and who should not. 

 

Anderson (BLR) That would depend upon the motion. I think the motion was to strike that completely, meaning the agency personnel would just come right in the room and– 

 

Elliott Okay.

 

Anderson (BLR) –would be present throughout the whole budget presentation. 

 

Elliott Okay. All right. Thanks. 

 

Rice Okay, not seeing any further requests, we need a motion to adopt the rules as amended. I have a motion. We have a second. All in favor, aye. Opposed? The rules are adopted. Thank you. 

 

Anderson (BLR) Yes, sir, Mr. Chairman. Okay. Also, just wanted, for the committee’s information, there are three books on your table. It’s a tax handbook, which is a summary of– it gives a nice summary of the, all the taxes Arkansas has and shows collections in there. There is also a B book which has a lot of selected statistical data. For example, it’ll show you the general revenue cuts that have been made throughout the years. Some Medicaid information is in there. Higher Ed information is in there. And there is also what we call the A book, which is a 10-year expenditure history. And you’ll see on your agenda, when we get to an agency, the A book page is also listed on your agenda, so if you wanted to look at their 10-year expenditure history. Mr. chairman, those are the books on the table. 

 

Rice And at this time, we’re going to have Robert Breck come up and he’s going to explain briefly the budget manual. Mr. Breck, you’re recognized. 

 

Breck Thank you, Mr. Chair. Robert Breck, State Budget Office. They asked me to go over the budget book. Our office actually puts together these budget manuals for you. It’s a lot of work, as you can imagine, that goes into all of this. And I just wanted to give you an overview of how this works and so you’ll kind of have a general understanding when you’re looking at these pages of how this works. I thought I’d just go ahead and show you the Department of Health, since I saw many of my friends outside. I spent over 20 years there, so I’m familiar with their budget. If you go to page 62 of your manual, it starts off with just a general summary of the agency. You can see an employment summary, required to show the breakout of employees. You’ll also see a list of publications that the Health Department has to do under business area 645. You also see a page on– on page 65, it’ll show the minority contracts that they’re engaged in. That’s also statutorily required. But the meat of it starts on page 66. And this is the summary, appropriations summary for the Department of Health. So when you look at the top, you’ll see emergency medical services, you’ll see a 34D by that, by that heading. That’s the fund center. You’ll see the actual expenditures in that first column, where it says 21-22. These would have been the FY 22 numbers. So these are actual expenditures for emergency medical services. You’ll see the 20– the current budget. They’ve got budget at 60,000 and they’re authorized 60,000. That’s what you would have approved in the last biennium. Then you’ll also see the, in the 23-24, these are the future appropriations that you’ll be looking at. The agency request is that they keep the $60,000 appropriation. The executive recommendation equals that amount. And that follows through for 23-24, which would be FY 24, and then 24-25. You also see on the health operations payment account, that’s their largest fund. That’s 34P. Something that you’ll see in this that might be confusing, you’ll see the actual expenditures of 326.5 million. They were budgeted in 22-23. They budgeted 485.6 million. But you’ll see authorized is just 368.8. And you might ask, well, how could they have budgeted more than is authorized? You’ll find notes near the bottom of the tables that explain it. But in this situation, you had some salary increases and you had a miscellaneous federal grant that added to that. So you’ll see anomalies like that, but they should be explained by the narratives at the bottom of the page. You’ll also see the number of employees that they’re authorized, the number of employees that they budgeted, and the number of employees that they actually utilized in in FY 22. You’ll notice, also, and I wanted– one of the reasons I want to show you this, you’ll see all the ARPA– about a third of the way down the page, you’ll see all of these ARPA expenditures that occurred in FY 22. Those are not going to reoccur, and that’s why it’s all zeroed out to the right. They won’t be asking for any more appropriation for these particular ARPA requests. And then below that, you’ll see the funding sources and you’ll see all of the different funding sources that the Health Department uses for their general fund. You’ll see the fund balance is what they had left over and carried over. The general revenues is what you gave them through the RSA. They’ve got federal revenue, special revenues, cash funds, performance funds. All of their different types of funding is all listed on this page. Now, this is just a summary. And all the budget is is just a compilation of smaller budgets that just build up until you finally get to the large, the large amounts. But that’s how the summary page works. If you go to the next page, on page 68, you’ll see 34D, Emergency Medical Services. That’s the first line from the summary. And so there’s going to be a page for each one of those lines that you see. And so for emergency medical services, you’ll get a narrative of what they do. You know, that gives you an idea of how they operate. And then you can see, this is just the budget page, on page 69, this would just be the appropriations summary just for that fund. So you’ve got the operating expenses. Their actual expenditures were 29,389. And all of this is compiled into the summary. So each one of those lines, you’re going to, you’re going to find a page for each, for each fund. So you’ll see they actually spent 29,389. Again they’re asking– they got– they budgeted 60,000. They’re asking to, again, budget 60,000 for 2024 and 2025. You’ll see their fund balance was 168,826. Their special revenue– and this is from EMS fees– 43,873, transferred all of $15. So you’ll see their total funding of $212,714. And so you’ll see that they had 183,325 left. You’ll find that, whenever that’s in parentheses, you’ll find that in the fund balance. If you go up to 22-23, you’ll see that same number. That’s the fund balance that they, that they carried forward into 2023. You can see what they expect to take in special revenue for FY 23 and their total funding. And they expect to end up with 157,783 at the end of FY 23. Again, you’ll find that number that’s just transferred over to the fund balance for FY 24. And that’s the way this works throughout the manual. So whenever there’s a fund balance that’s carried forward, you’ll see that in parentheses and it’ll show up in the fund balance for FY 23. The expected fund balance after FY 24 will be 132,241. Again, that’s put into FY 25. That’s how all of this works. It’s just a compilation of all of these different pages. Now, this is just one of the manuals. I believe there’s going to be five that you’ll be looking at. So you’ll see that when you compile each of these funds into the, into the agencies, you just end up with one large budget. But each agency is also limited on how they can spend these funds in each of these, in each of these sub-funds. So it has to be spent in each one of these the way the pages are reflected, for the most part. I’d be more than happy to take any questions that you might have should. And I know it’s real clear. And until you look at it for a little while, it takes a bit to understand it. But it’s a system that really works well and it’s been developed over the years. 

 

Rice Members, are there any questions for Mr. Breck? And as always, what we get rusty on and we forget, you pick up as we go along real quick. 

 

Breck I certainly try. 

 

Rice But feel free to ask questions if you have need. Seeing no questions, thank you, Mr. Breck. 

 

Breck Thank you, sir. 

 

Rice Mr. Anderson. 

 

Anderson (BLR) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The chairs have asked that maybe I go over a quick summary of the process we have for this whole budget hearings. Robert and his staff over at DFA are putting these manuals together. As he said, we’ll have about five manuals. It’s quite a bit of information. We, your staff, get them about 10 days prior to the presentation. You’ll see that one page summary when all the agencies are scheduled. So we have contacted the agency secretaries and directors and told them when they are scheduled to come before so that they can be here, come before this committee, so that they can be here. And we say all this because a lot of times we may move fast through and we say, well, why don’t we do more? Well, we don’t have them scheduled to come and we might not even have the manual and be ready for the presentation. So I just wanted to let the committee know how the schedule works and the process that’s gone through. And our staff, when they get these manuals, they go through them and prepare a presentation for you all to show you all any change levels and walk you, basically, walk you through the manual, what page it’s on and what their request is. And then the agency directors are given a chance to come up and speak and answer any questions. And Robert and his staff are here to answer any questions for the executive. Mr. Chairman, will that suffice? 

 

Rice And that’s what I asked Mr. Anderson. As they work to make things efficient, you know, there’s only so much you can do in the process. The process is what it is. And we just wanted him to explain it to you, the reason we don’t just dump everything in one load. You can’t make the process work correctly that way. 

 

Anderson (BLR) Okay. Mr. Chairman, that brings us to our first presentation. What we have done here for the first day is, the Department of Labor and Licensing and the Department of Health have a bunch of boards and commissions that Transformation moved into their department. We have three spreadsheets. The first spreadsheet is for the Department of Labor and Licensing boards and commissions. That says spreadsheet 1 on it. That is the spreadsheet we will look at now. In that spreadsheet, you’ll see the first column list all the boards and commissions. And then right next to that, moving left to right, you’ll see the page number that that board or commission is listed in the budget manual. And then it’s the same format that Robert just went over, where, if, for example, if you go to the Abstractors Board, you’ll see there on page 184, you’ll see their actual expenditures, what they actually spent the last completed fiscal year was 8,398. They have zero positions. And then you’ll see what’s in their bill this year, what’s authorized for them, and then you’ll see– if you– in the blue there, 2023-2024, this is what the committee will be recommending to be put– when the committee– if the committee adopts executive rec for 65,625, that’s the number that will actually be in their appropriation bill during the session. And so you’ll see we have an agency request, an exec rec, a lot of times– their executive recommendation– a lot of times they are the same. Sometimes they’re different. And then we also have a recommendation for the 24-25 fiscal year. And Mr. Chairman, on the first spreadsheet, you’ll see the bail bonds– I’m sorry. In spreadsheet number one, it’s already been– we have all these boards and commissions, and the committee normally is given a chance to ask any specific questions about any of these boards and commissions or ask if they want to pull any out to be heard. If you all want to pull any out, then this Thursday, when the Department of Labor comes up, we will also have that board present to answer any questions and make their presentation. So this spreadsheet is to kind of give us a jump start to see if you all want to approve any of these as is or if you want to pull any out. Mr. Chairman, I’ve already been told to pull the Professional Bail Bonds Board out to be presented on Thursday. 

 

Rice Members, are there any other ones you would like pulled out at this time? Senator Hester, you’re recognized.

 

Hester If we just have any question at all, it’s going to require them to come before us? 

 

Anderson (BLR) We’re here and Robert’s here. We can take a shot at any question you think you may have. If it’s a programmatic question or if you want, specifically want them to come in, we’re ready to do whatever you want, senator.

 

Hester I have a question on the Home Inspector Registration Board when that time’s appropriate. 

 

Rice Yeah. That– we can go ahead and do that at this time. 

 

Hester Okay. On page 234, the Home Inspector Registration Board, Kevin, you may answer. Like, just looking at this, and I know this because of history, it says their total funds, like, they’re going to be expected in 23-24 to, like, have $855,000. Is that extra money just sitting in an account and yet they’re only spending like 80 grand a year? 

 

Anderson (BLR) Yes, sir. 

 

Hester So they have a 10-year surplus? 

 

Anderson (BLR) Yes, sir. So would you like me to kind of go through how that fund balance works, senator? 

 

Hester Yeah, I’m pretty sure I know, but I would like for you to go through it one time for me.

 

Anderson (BLR) Okay. So the easiest way to see that, and something we look at, so that’s, that’s– I’m really glad you brought this to the committee’s attention. You’ll see in– we’re on page 234. You’ll see fund balance down there right after funding source. In actual, that’s what they started fiscal year 2022 with is $552,217. That is their fund balance they started the year. And then when you go down, at the end of the year, you’ll see they ended that year with $612,600. So then you’ll see that 612,600 carries up to the next column to fiscal year 22-23. And when you look at the projections out, Senator Hester’s talking about, at the second to bottom line, when you go all the way across, you’ll see they have a projected fund balance at the end of 2025 of 846,125. Of course, that projected balance does depend upon the agency’s expenditures, which is estimated at this time, but it does show a growth in the balance. Yes, sir. 

 

Hester Yeah, I think we started, you know, a couple of years ago putting pressure on these boards and commissions that had these significantly high surpluses, more than three or four years’ worth of operating, you know, a budget in surplus, that they find a way to start dropping that down, whether it’s returning money or lowering licensing fees. Clearly, they’re not doing that. So I guess, I would, I would like to have them– I would like to pull that out and have them come explain that to us on Thursday. Thanks. 

 

Rice Okay, staff will have that. Thank you. Representative Wooten, is your question for Mr. Anderson? 

 

Wooten Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I need a clarification, and I think you just covered it. I want to direct your attention back to page 69 where we started out. I want to ask a question. I noticed that, you know– I think this goes along with Senator Hester’s question, too. But this is an agency, not a board. But if I’m reading this correctly, they’re going to have a fund balance at the end of the year of 132,000 versus 157. Is that right? Am I reading that right? 

 

Anderson (BLR) Yes, sir. This, this actually will come before the committee, the Department of Health on Thursday, and we will go over this particular one. This one is not one that’s on our spreadsheet that’s in front of me. But you are– 

 

Wooten That’s the reason I referred back to it. But I am looking at that correctly? 

 

Anderson (BLR) Yes, sir. 

 

Wooten Okay. Thank you. That’s all I had. 

 

Rice Thank you. Representative Cavenaugh, you’re recognized.. 

 

Cavenaugh Thank you, Mr. Chair. Kevin, if you can just verify, when I’m looking at this, and this– let’s take the Arkansas Abstractors Board, it shows that it has no employees. Is that correct? 

 

Anderson (BLR) Yes, sir. Yes, ma’am. Sorry. 

 

Cavenaugh So, so we have boards with no employees? I mean, there’s more than just one. So my question is, how does that work? 

 

Anderson (BLR) Okay. Abstractors Board– okay, they, they had a– they didn’t have a position. I just got to the page. So that’s on page 184. They did not have an actual position in fiscal year 2022. They do have one position budgeted for this year and one position authorized. So for fiscal year, for fiscal year 2022, when I read that to the committee, they just, that year they did not have that position filled, so it was shown as a zero. But they do have one employee. If you look, okay, so if you look across on page 184 under positions, you’ll see actual– under positions for zero for 2022, and then you’ll see that under the authorized column for 2023 they have one position. And their request is to continue that one position, and the executive has recommended that. And I will remind the committee, that Personnel subcommittee that was created, they’ll be looking at all of these. They’ll go through each of the positions and then make a recommendation back to this committee in a report. 

 

Cavenaugh Okay. Because I notice that there are several that have no employees for 21-22. So I don’t know how a board works if they don’t have employees. 

 

Anderson (BLR) Yeah. Well, an example would be the, the promotion boards, which we’re going to see. That’s in attachment three, which we’re going to see later on. And they are staffed by Farm Bureau who does it for free, who does the staffing for the– and then other times you may have an extra help employee for a small board and commission that is not classified as a position that does the paperwork and provides the staff support for meetings for the board members. 

 

Cavenaugh Okay. Thank you. And also, if we can have the Motor Vehicle Commission come here to speak, I’d appreciate that. 

 

Anderson (BLR) Got it. Yes, ma’am. 

 

Cavenaugh Thank you. 

 

Rice Representative Vaught, you’re recognized. 

 

Vaught Thank you, Mr. Chair. So I think I’ll have questions for the Arkansas Psychology Board and the Social Work Licensing Board.  

 

Anderson (BLR) Would you like to hold us for Thursday, or do you want us to try to answer your questions? 

 

Vaught No, sir. I’d like to hold them. 

 

Anderson (BLR) Yes, ma’am. 

 

Vaught Oh, and can I add the towing board to that also, sir? Totally forgot. 

 

Anderson (BLR)  Yes. Got it. Yes, ma’am. 

 

Rice Senator Hill, you’re recognized. 

 

Hill Kevin, I guess this is for you. I’m going to piggyback off of what Senator Hester said a while ago on the home inspectors. And this right here is on the appraisers board. You’re looking at the end of 22-23 over $1 million in excess funding, and you take it on down to 24-25, you got three quarters of $1 million right there. Do they need to answer questions or can you–

 

Anderson (BLR) So you’re on page 190? 

 

Hill Yes, sir. 

 

Anderson (BLR) Okay. Yes, sir. Yeah. There may be a time when the agency secretary or director can come in and say if they have a plan maybe to build a building or do renovations or why they’re carrying such a large fund balance. If you wanted to hold that, we can make sure they’re here. 

 

Hill Yes, sir, let’s hold it. 

 

Anderson (BLR) Yes, sir. So we’re holding that, the appraisers licensing, and– what was the other board, Mr. Chair? Psychology, towing and social work are also held for Thursday. 

 

Rice Senator Hammer, you’re recognized. 

 

Hammer Thank you, Mr. Chair. Can I ask Kevin a question, please? 

 

Rice Yes. 

 

Hammer Thank you. Kevin, how hard would it be to compile a report of all the boards in one simple document and their balances to show what they have over a three-year average that may be available that could be refunded to those that pay the board fees? 

 

Anderson (BLR) Yeah, that would take legislation to do that. And we could certainly work with attorneys to do that. And we can get you that information. Yes, sir, of course. 

 

Hammer Right. But I’m just asking, the time investment of the staff to compile a report that would show all the boards, what their balances are, and do those balances exceed a three-year running average of what they collect? 

 

Anderson (BLR) Yes, sir. We can get that. That’s why we’re here. We’ll get that for you. 

 

Hammer Mr. Chair, would that be okay if we direct staff to get that so we could just have it in one form and see the carry forward balance over a three year average, please? 

 

Rice Staff says they can do that. 

 

Hammer Thank you. 

 

Rice Okay, members, not seeing any others to hold, we can grow and adopt this. Do I have a motion for executive rec for those that’s not held yet? I have a motion. Do I have a second? Second. All in favor, aye. Opposed? Those are adopted. Mr. Anderson. 

 

Anderson (BLR) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So that takes care of the labor and licensing boards and commissions, and we have recorded all those and they will be here Thursday to answer questions. The next is the same format, but this is for the Department of Health, their boards and commissions. That is spreadsheet 2 in your packet. And Mr. Chairman, I guess we’re ready to go through the same procedure we did with Spreadsheet 1.

 

Rice Members, you have your spreadsheet 2 marked. Have any questions, any of those to pull out at this time? Give you just a minute. Representative Vaught, you’re recognized. Punch your button again. 

 

Vaught Sorry about that, sir. I know– I can’t find it on here, but I was wanting to hold the drug abuse counselor and the counseling board. But I can’t– I don’t know if I’m ahead of my time or not. That’s what I was trying to look for. 

 

Anderson (BLR) That, that is on this sheet. It’s the second one. 

 

Rice The second one, I think, isn’t it? Okay. Kevin has that. Was that all, Representative Vaught? That’s all for you? Representative Dotson, you’re recognized. 

 

Dotson Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Arkansas State Medical Board, I think page 117, it has a very high fund balance in that as well. Are we going to get that report for all of these as well, the three year average? 

 

Rice Yes, that can– staff says they can do that. 

 

Dotson Okay. If we could have them come in and answer if they’ve got a plan for their almost 18 million in total excess funding. 

 

Rice We will mark them. 

 

Dotson Thank you. 

 

Rice Thank you. Senator Elliott, you’re recognized. 

 

Elliott Thank you, Mr. Chair. If you said, I missed it, but will we have the hearing for all of these boards that are being held at one time? Will it be its own agenda? 

 

Rice Just one minute. 

 

Elliott Okay. 

 

Anderson (BLR)  Yes, ma’am. We’re ready to go Thursday. We’re actually having the department secretaries come in to do their presentation for Health Department and for labor and licensing. And we will also contact those boards and commissions to make sure they’re here to make that presentation. And then it’ll be whether the committee wants to go ahead and make a recommendation or continue to hold them for some reason. 

 

Elliott So they will be here on the same day as the heads of the departments? 

 

Anderson (BLR) Yes, ma’am. 

 

Elliott All right. Thank you. 

 

Rice Okay. Members, not seeing any more questions, do I have a motion for executive rec for all those except the ones noted? I have a motion executive rec. Second. All in favor, aye. Opposed? That’s adopted. 

 

Anderson (BLR) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So that takes us to spreadsheet number 3. These are the promotion boards. And we have done another summary spreadsheet for you for these promotion boards. This is the same format as the other two spreadsheets. These do not have any employees as they are staffed by the Farm Bureau. The page numbers are corresponding them. We’re happy to try to answer any questions or hold them for another meeting Thursday. 

 

Rice Okay. Members, look, look the promotion boards over. If there’s any questions on those, we can get deeper. 

 

Anderson (BLR) Yes, sir. Mr. Chairman, I will. None of these promotions– the only change in all of these promotion boards over a previously authorized level is Beef Council has a reallocation. It’s not an increase. They are moving $5,000 from conference and feed operating expense. That’s the only change in all of these boards and commissions. And it’s not an increase, it’s a reallocation. 

 

Rice Seeing no questions, do I have a motion for exec rec on these? I have a motion from Senator Leding. Second, Representative Ferguson. All in favor, say aye. Opposed? Those are adopted. Members, I know this is a little shorter day. They won’t always be short. We appreciate your participation. Remember Special Language will meet at 1:30. Members are listed on your sheet. Others are welcome to sit in. With that, we are adjourned.