Agency Recommendation Summaries

The individual agency Recommendation Summaries in this document reflect the dollar and FTE differences between current biennium (2005-07) expenditure authority and the Governor's proposed 2007-09 budget.  The summaries also identify the activities the agencies perform, with narrative that is intended to present a succinct, informative description of the services that result from this budget proposal.

The activity information continues to play a crucial role in the Governor’s budget development effort, helping decision makers analyze statewide costs and results, and providing a meaningful way to talk about the work of state government.  While activity data appears to be the best way to explain what the budget will buy, there are also some qualifications that should be noted:

  • Most agencies do not have accounting systems that detail expenditures to the activity level.  Costs displayed in the Recommendation Summaries should be considered reasonable, but not precise, estimates.
  • With approximately 1,000 activity descriptions for more than 100 agencies, the level at which activities are defined will vary somewhat from agency to agency. 
  • The assignment of costs or savings of new items to activities is an estimate.  The agency will have the opportunity to reassign these costs to the proper activities after the budget is enacted.

Other formatting conventions in this document include the following:

  • Each agency step table displays a summary line representing the cost of Maintenance Level (i.e., the dollars necessary to carry on the same activities next biennium, as adjusted for rate changes and mandatory caseload or enrollment changes).  Proposed changes to this base level of funding are itemized as “Performance Changes” and briefly described.
  • An asterisk (*) indicates expenditure changes that are dependent on new revenue legislation.
  • Expenditures requiring other types of legislation are identified by a pound sign (#) at the end of the item label.
  • Many agency summaries will include an item in the activity list titled “Other Statewide Adjustments.”  This item reflects proposed compensation adjustments that were not allocated to individual agency activities.  The agency will assign these costs to the proper activities after the budget is enacted.

Legislative
Judicial
Governmental Operations
Human Services - DSHS
Human Services - Other
Natural Resources and Recreation
Transportation
Kindergarten Through Grade 12 Education
Higher Education
Other Education
Bond Retirement and Interest
Special Appropriations to the Governor
Retirement Systems Contributions
Compensation
Expenditures

Printable Recommendation Summaries Document


Legislative

Judicial

Governmental Operations

Human Services - DSHS

Human Services - Other

Natural Resources and Recreation

Transportation

Kindergarten Through Grade 12 Education

Higher Education

Other Education

Bond Retirement and Interest

Special Appropriations to the Governor

Retirement Systems Contributions

Compensation

Expenditures