Executive Committee approves four legislative agency budgets and reviews department request

The Executive Committee approved the budgets for four legislative entities as a slate: Office of the State Auditor, Legislative Council Staff, Joint Budget Committee staff and the Office of Legislative Legal Services.

Keri Hunter (State Auditor) said the budget in the packet was the same as she presented previously. Natalie Castle (Legislative Council Staff) noted a corrected line: she removed a $120 advertising line item from the figure-setting table and requested roll-forward authority for $21,000 for new legislator orientation and $9,000 for official functions.

The committee then reviewed the legislative department’s figure-setting tables. Director Castle said the department request increases general fund spending by about $1.4 million (1.9%), with most of the change attributable to health, life and dental benefit cost increases; other line items were flat or reduced. A motion to approve the budgets was moved, seconded and approved unanimously by roll call.