RAILROAD ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES BOARD SALARIES AND EXPENSES For expenses of the Railroad Accounting Principles Board necessary to carry out the provisions of the Staggers Rail Act of 1980 (Public Law 96-448, approved October 14, 1980), $1,000,000. Justification of Estimates Fiscal Year 1982 Section 302, Title III of the Staggers Rail Act of 1980 (Public Law 96-448), established as an agent of the Congress a Railroad Accounting Principles Board. This legislation provides that the Board shall consist of the Comptroller General of the United States who shall serve as Chairman and six other members appointed by the Comptroller General. The Act empowers the Board to utilize personnel from the Federal Government, with the consent of the head of the appropriate Federal department or agency, and to appoint individuals from the private sector to serve on advisory committees or to provide the staff services necessary to assist the Board in carrying out its functions and responsibilities. The enabling legislation provides that the term of office of each appointed member of the Board shall be three years, except in the case of a member appointed to fill a vacancy. Such member, so appointed shall serve for the remainder of the term for which his predecessor was appointed. Each appointed member of the Board shall receive compensation at a rate of one two-hundred-sixtieth of the rate prescribed for level IV for each day in which he is engaged in the actual performance of duties vested in the Board. The members of the Board shall be appointed as follows: --one shall be from the accounting profession; --one shall be from the railroad industry; --one shall be a representative of major rail --one shall be from the Interstate Commerce Com- --one shall be a representative of small rail shippers; --one shall be from the economics profession. The principal function of the Board is to establish "PRINCIPLES", within two years after the effective date of the Act, governing the determination of economically accurate railroad costs directly and indirectly associated with particular movements of goods, including the variable costs associated with particular movements of goods or such other costs as the Board believes most accurately represents the economic costs of such movements. Such principles, once developed, shall apply to all rail carriers providing transportation subject to the jurisdiction of the Interstate Commerce Commission (under subchapter I of chapter 105 of Title 49) and shall govern the determination of all railroad costs for specific regulatory proceedings under Title 49. The Act specifies that the Board shall cease to exist three years after the effective date of the Staggers Rail Act of 1980. The budget estimate for fiscal year 1982 is $1,000,000 and is broken Total Personnel Compensation. This estimate covers the fiscal year 1982 salary costs for 22 permanent positions and 2 part-time consultants. The permanent positions include 5 Board Members, an Executive Director, 11 other professional positions and 5 supportive clerical positions. It is anticipated that at least one of the other Board members, in addition to the Comptroller General, will be from another government agency. Thus, salaries for these two Board members will continue to be paid by their respective agencies and are not included here. Salaries for Board members included in this estimate are based on the estimated days to be spent meeting on Board matters throughout fiscal year 1982. Personnel benefits. The amount for Personnel Benefits is to cover the Government contribution for retirement, life insurance and health benefits of the Board's employees. Travel and transportation of persons. The amount for travel ($57,000) will cover the travel of the Board members to Washington to attend meetings and the travel of the staff necessary to collect relevant materials for their use in the development of "PRINCIPLES". Other Objects. The amount budgeted for Other Objects of $169,000 will cover all miscellaneous expenses of the Board such as space rental, telephone services, printing charges, supplies, materials and ADP services. |