Note: This year IFF rated maintenance bills according to a more refined system. This is an enhancement bill, and will be rated as a standalone bill. IFF will only consider enhancement line items in these ratings. This means that FTP reductions passed in maintenance legislation will not be evaluated here, among other things.

Bill Description: House Bill 923 is an enhancement of $782,000 and an additional 1.00 full-time positions for the Department of Administration for fiscal year 2027. This legislation appropriates a total of $32,110,400 and 137.00 full-time positions to the agency.

Rating: -2

Is the continuation or growth in ongoing spending, if any, inappropriate for the changes in circumstances, scope of the agency, or current economic environment? Conversely, is the continuation or growth in ongoing spending appropriate given any change in circumstances or economic pressures?

This legislation authorizes an ongoing spending enhancement for the Department of Administration of $435,200, adding onto last year’s (FY26) ongoing spending increase of $284,500. FY26’s ongoing spending is wrapped into FY27’s base increase, making ongoing spending especially important to scrutinize. Volatility in these increases (or decreases) is to be expected, and makes discernment on the propriety of new spending imperative.

The increase in ongoing spending consists of General Inflation increases to utility rates ($276,100 DF) and the addition of a Bureau Chief for Medicaid Procurement ($159,500 DF). The hiring of a new Bureau Chief for Medicaid Procurement is unwarranted, especially so in a deficit year. The Departments of Administration and Health and Welfare have more than enough employees and funds to be able to make this change without requesting new funds. DHW had at least 83 long term vacancies, as reported by the DOGE taskforce.  

(-1)

Does this budget incur any wasteful spending among discretionary funds, including new line items? Conversely, does this budget contain any provisions that serve to reduce spending where possible (i.e. base reductions, debt reconciliation, etc.)?

This legislation authorizes onetime spending for the Department of Administration of $346,800, adding additional expenditures after last year’s (FY26) onetime spending of $175,700. Onetime spending is often even more volatile than ongoing spending, which is to be expected due to these onetime expenses generally being utilized for projects or capital outlay. This also calls for special scrutiny and discernment.

The onetime expenditure solely consists of a technical correction and OITS hardware and are De Minimis compared to agency operations.

(0)

Does the budget grow government through the addition of new, objectionable, permanent FTPs or through funding unlegislated efforts to create new or expanded existing programs? Conversely, does this budget reduce the size of government staff and programs except where compelled by new legislation?

This legislation would increase FTP by 1.00 to add a new Bureau Chief for Medicaid Procurement, as explained above.

(-1)