3 years, it goes to a 50-50 basis, so we will be financing 50 percent o the project, and the State and local government will be financing 5 percent. So it appears-and my memory is vague on this-that the Congres looked at this as seed money to get things started and to go up to degree where a larger burden is really picked up by the State and local governments. TOTAL FUNDS AVAILABLE TO BE EXPENDED IN FISCAL YEAR 1974 Mr. STEED. The $15 million you had in the 1973 fiscal year, how much of that would be unexpended, which you'll have available? Mr. HAMPTON. That's roughly $9 million, I believe. Mr. STEED. That $9 million with the $5 million you have now, will that enable you to maintain something in the neighborhood of the current level? Mr. HAMPTON. Yes, with the $10 million appropriation request, this will give us a program level in fiscal 1974 that is very comparable to what the present level is. Mr. STEED. Do you feel that after another year's experience in this, that you'll have a much better handle on what the longer range needs are going to be than you have now? Mr. HAMPTON. I think so. All of the evidence available indicates that this program is a success, and is so recognized by the State and local government officials who have participated in it. As I indicated earlier, we are currently evaluating it to provide as firm a basis as possible for our budget request for fiscal year 1975. Mr. STEED. Mr. Robison, do you have anything? Mr. ROBISON. No questions, Mr. Chairman. Mr. STEED. Gentlemen, it's been a long afternoon in a poorly venti lated room. You've been very cooperative, and we appreciate it. We're always delighted to have a very fine organization like the Civil Service Commission before us. We trust that we will be able to give you the wherewithal to continue to do a very outstanding job. it. Mr. HAMPTON. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate Mr. STEED. The committee will stand adjourned until further notice. The budget for accomplishing the objectives of the U.S. Civil Service Commission in FY 1974 totals approximately $2.5 billion. Of this amount, over $1.7 billion consists of reimbursements, transfers, and a permanent indefinite authorization, leaving $791,519,000 to be appropriated. Most of this latter amount consists of payments to the various trust funds. For the Salaries and Expenses Appropriation, an amount of $65.774,000 is requested, a decrease of $30,000. Of the 6,169 full-time permanent positions budgeted in FY 1974, the Salaries and Expenses Appropriation will finance 3,617. The remainder will be financed from other sources of funds.. Following are highlights of this budget: Activity One, "Assuring a Merit Work Force" The Civil Service Commission will continue in FY 1974 to carry out the provisions of the Prevailing The recruiting and examining program reflects a reduction in workload as a result of an anticipated decline in the level of Federal employment during FY 1974 and provides a Government-wide savings due to the absorption of testing and job information services previously performed by the Postal Service. The reimbursable training program is expected to continue to increase as agencies shift a larger proportion of their training to Commission facilities. The Commission's reimbursable investigations program will assume a substantial workload increase as a result of agreements reached with the Department of Justice to perform certain background investigations formerly processed by the FBI. The Commission will test a prototype system of the Federal personnel management information system in three agencies in FY 1974. Activity Two, "Providing Retirement and Insurance Benefits" Increases are budgeted for the Government share of retirement and disability benefits based on recent legisla- Through negotiation, the Employee Health Benefits program will have only slightly higher premium rates and an To administer the Retirement and Insurance program, increases are requested to process substantially larger Activity Three, "Strengthening State and Local Personnel Administration" Financial assistance for State and local governments will continue at approximately the same level in FY 1974 pending an evaluation of the grant program. Requests for Training of State and local government employees on a reimbursable basis are expected to increase substantially. Activity Four, "Other Programs" Based on estimates from the Department of Justice, the budget provides for a reduction in Voting Rights observations from the level in FY 1973, a year of national elections. |