New positions (8) (full year funding): To establish the American Folklife 1 GS-18; 1 GS-16; 1 GS-13; 3 GS-11; 1 GS-7; 1 CS-4 $164,831 15,169 $180,000 + $ 284,000 COMPARATIVE TRANSFERS Mr. SHIPLEY. There are two items under the "Decreases" category on pages 4 and 5 just inserted that are new this year and should be explained. Comparative transfer to the Department of State-$125,000; and comparative transfer to salaries and expenses, Congressional Research Service-$164,600. Please explain these two items to the committee. TRANSFER TO DEPARTMENT OF STATE Mr. CURRAN. The first decrease is the result of a transfer to the Department of State which will occur in this appropriation and also one other under the foreign currency program. In previous years the Department of State supported all Government agencies that had overseas staff and overseas activities. That includes the Library of Congress. We have an overseas acquisitions and cataloging program. In prior years the agencies transferred from their budgets to the State Department the cost of the services that State provided for these agencies. They are ministerial services that the State Department provides to the various agencies who have overseas activities. This year we were notified by the State Department of a proposed change in the budget process in this area. This will affect all Government agencies including the Library, which is one of the smaller agencies that have activities overseas. That change for the Library as well as all the others is being presented to their Subcommittee on Appropriations. Their proposal is to have support costs appropriated directly to the State Department instead of appropriated to the various agencies concerned. Therefore, they have instructed us and all other Government agencies to reduce our estimates this year and they in turn will add it to their budget. Therefore, it is a comparative transfer. This is a decrease in our budget but it is not a decrease in the budget of the United States because they will show an increase in their estimates. It is a management problem that the State Department has and this is their solution to it. Mr. SHIPLEY. I think, frankly, it was a good move to do this. Mr. CURRAN. We agree. Mr. SHIPLEY. It is just a transfer of funds. I think it should be carried under their budget. TRANSFER TO CRS How about the transfer of $164,600 to salaries and expenses, Congressional Research Service. Mr. CURRAN. This is a tidying up also. In previous years the basic appropriations of the Library paid costs for certain postage, local telephones, printing costs, costs which were direct costs to the Congressional Research Service as well as certain purchasing of books for the Service which is carried in a separate appropriation in "Books general." In an effort to better reflect the direct costs of the Service, we are proposing that the amount of $164,600 and later on in the "Book gen eral" appropriation, the amount of $321,500 be transferred to the Congressional Research Service appropriation. Again, it is a minus here and a plus on their side. It will, however, better reflect the direct costs of the Service. We will, of course, continue to support the Service in a multitude of other administrative support areas. This brings the Service's budget more in line with the other programs, such as the blind and physically handicapped program, which are separate appropriations. It is basically a housekeeping matter. Mr. SHIPLEY. I think it was a good move. IN-GRADES AND REALLOCATIONS Let's turn to page 6 of the justification, the items under "Increases" which commence on page 6. The first two, "In-Grades and Reallocations," $791,733 and the annualization of salary costs for 72 new positions, 1976, $221,147. I assume these are mandatory costs? Mr. CURRAN. Yes, sir. Within grades and reallocations occur regularly. Staff members move up in grades. Our reclassification decisions are based on the work currently performed as analyzed within the meaning of the Classification Act and determined to be a particular grade level. I might add that these are retrospective in the sense that we are not anticipating reclassifications, but for reclassifications that have occurred we are asking to recover the cost in the next year's budget. The within-grades are based on a forecasted expectation. This is all within the context of the 3-percent lapse factor. If we did not make allowance for these types of increases, that lapse would grow and it would become 4, 5, or 6 percent which, in effect, means that many jobs that you might have authorized could not, in fact, be filled. ANNUALIZATION OF SALARY COSTS The second item, annualization of salary costs for 72 positions from last year, the committee currently funds new positions for 9 months in anticipation that there will be a delay in filling these jobs. When we request funding for the next full-year cycle we ask for the other 3 months not appropriated in the original authorization. Hence, it is an increase in the 1977 budget. TEMPORARY BICENTENNIAL POSITIONS Mr. SHIPLEY. The salary costs of $141,643 for the 14 temporary positions relates to the supplemental in which these positions were funded for 1976. Will you have need for all of these positions throughout fiscal year 1977? I think we asked you that question last year. It was indicated that you might or maybe you would. But refresh our memory for the record, if you will, and tell us what justification you have to continue them if you do plan to continue them. As I recall, these temporary positions were due to the Bicentennial celebration and expected influx of people that you would have. 67-595 O-76-6 Mr. CURRAN. Yes, sir. In the request which we presented to this subcommittee last fall, I believe in November, we asked for 14 positions in support of the special police service, the information services of the Library, and certain extended hours of buildings service, a total of 14 positions. Mr. SHIPLEY. Janitorial service and special police? Mr. CURRAN. Yes, sir, three categories. We asked for those positions because we had already noted a growing number of visitors to the' Library. We are anticipating a considerably larger number of visitors even above the high levels of last summer in the summer ahead. It was our best judgment at the time that the continuing growth of visitors to Washington would continue not only into the Bicentennial year of 1976 but would continue throughout the Bicentennial period as well. The committees of the House and the Senate felt that the positions were needed but authorized them on a temporary basis only. They did authorize them for the 9-month period beginning January 1 past through September 30. The Library felt, and still feels, that these needs will continue in 1977 as well. Mr. SHIPLEY. Because of the Bicentennial? Mr. CURRAN. Well, in part, that is the driving force. In 1975 there was a growth of visitors. We expect a larger number of visitors in 1976 and at this point we are not able to say that there will be a sharp decline in 1977. As a matter of fact, our best estimate is that there will be a large number of visitors in that year. VISITOR VOLUME PROJECTION Mr. SHIPLEY. Mr. Curran, where do you get your projection on how many people will be here next year? I know that in a normal year, without a Bicentennial, you can project by past experience and past history and pretty well hit it. But everything I have read and seen says that Washington is going to be lined up down Pennsylvania Avenue. There will be no rooms or reservations available and there will be campers parked everywhere. I can't see this happening. Everyone who has talked to me about coming to Washington says, "I am coming this year because I don't want to fight the crowd." I wonder if we will have the great influx of people we hear about? There is no justification to show me it will occur. Mr. CURRAN. Obviously we have no secret sources of information. We are relying on the same sources of information that others are. Mr. SHIPLEY. Where do you get your information? Mr. CURRAN. From forecasts that are being made by the Bicentennial Commission, business groups, other interested groups, and partly from our past experience. We know, for example, that this year reservations are very tight in a number of areas on the east coast. We agree there may not be an enormous increase of visitors in 1976, but we are not anticipating a large increase in staff. We intend to offer tour service on a larger scale, for example, extended hours of tour service, because we anticipate there will be more evening visitors. Mr. SHIPLEY. Don't misunderstand me, if they are here, we should extend every effort to make their visit enjoyable. But I just can't believe we will have that great an influx. Dr. BOORSTIN. Mr. Chairman, may I make a comment ? |