Summary of LAO Findings and Recommendations on the 2011-12 Budget

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	Program	Budget Issue	LAO Finding Or Recommendation	Last Updated
Go Back	Delta Stewardship Council	Reimbursement funding	Reject $5.8 million in reimbursement authority requested in the Governor's January budget that is stated to come from unknown sources and be for "unallocated" purposes. (The amount of such unallocated reimbursement authority was updated on January 21, based on a technical correction and clarification from the Department of Finance.)	1-21-11

Detailed Narrative
These "unallocated" reimbursement funds make up 21 percent of the total requested reimbursement authority for the Delta Stewardship Council (DSC) and are proposed to make up 15 percent of the council's total 2011-12 expenditure authority. Requesting reimbursement expenditure authority without identifying the sources or uses of the reimbursements limits the Legislature's ability to decide which expenditures warrant funding and how those expenditures are funded. This practice of "contingency budgeting" is problematic as it reduces the Legislature’s oversight of expenditures.

Detailed Narrative

These "unallocated" reimbursement funds make up 21 percent of the total requested reimbursement authority for the Delta Stewardship Council (DSC) and are proposed to make up 15 percent of the council's total 2011-12 expenditure authority. Requesting reimbursement expenditure authority without identifying the sources or uses of the reimbursements limits the Legislature's ability to decide which expenditures warrant funding and how those expenditures are funded. This practice of "contingency budgeting" is problematic as it reduces the Legislature’s oversight of expenditures.