Senate finance subcommittee forwards Department of Administration FY27 operating budget to full committee
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Summary
The Senate Finance Subcommittee voted April 16 to forward a recommended FY27 operating budget for the Department of Administration totaling $349,375,900 to the full Senate Finance Committee, denying proposed decentralization of payroll and shared services and asking the department to return with a plan by Dec. 1.
The Senate Finance Subcommittee voted April 16 to forward a recommended FY27 operating budget for the Department of Administration to the full Senate Finance Committee.
Ella Adkisson, staff to Senator Kiel, presented the subcommittee’s report, which recommends total funds of $349,375,900 for the department. Adkisson said unrestricted general funds in the recommendation are $99,571,500, designated general funds were read as $36,689,500,100, other funds $211,793,400 and federal funds $1,321,500. The report recommends a total position count of 1,218: 1,188 permanent full-time, four permanent part-time and 26 temporary positions.
The subcommittee accepted several items from the governor’s amended budget, including recommended increases to implement an information-technology classification study and $200,000 in program receipts for the Division of Motor Vehicles to cover higher costs for license plates, tabs and registrations. The report also recommends deleting a data communications specialist position that had been vacant for more than two years.
Adkisson said the report recommends deleting two vacant executive positions—a deputy commissioner and a chief operations officer—and adding an Attorney 5 to provide leadership and legal support to the public guardian section. She noted the Attorney 5 had been a governor-requested FY26 item that was not funded.
On organizational changes, the subcommittee denied proposed decentralization of payroll services and shared services, citing “significant concern that accepting either decentralization proposed in this budget cycle carries a high risk, especially in payroll services where the increased risk of error rates and missed pay to the state employees is at stake,” according to Adkisson. The report directs the department to return with a decentralization plan for payroll and shared services by Dec. 1 and recommends unwinding proposed decentralizations in the operating budget.
After the presentation the chair asked for questions; none were raised. A committee member moved “the attached budget action and worded reports from the Senate Budget Subcommittee for the Department of Administration” and further moved that “the subcommittee authorize legislative finance and legislative legal to make any technical or conforming changes.” The chair asked whether there was objection to the motion; none was voiced and the chair declared the motion carried.
The subcommittee acknowledged Legislative Finance staff member Rob Carpenter and Adkisson for preparing and correcting the report. The meeting adjourned at 5:54 p.m.
