Sponsor Statement for Senate Bill 224

Separate Appropriation for Maintenance

The Deferred Maintenance Task Force repeatedly heard from facility managers that they felt the legislature had not adequately funded the maintenance component of the budget. It also heard from Finance Committee members and staff that agencies were moving funds intended for maintenance to increase program operations in defiance of legislative intent. As long as both facility maintenance and program operations are funded in the same line item appropriation, this debate will continue. This debate has resulted in poor maintenance of public assets.

This bill requires a separate appropriation for maintenance. That will limit the use of those funds to maintenance. Agencies will need to determine the need for maintenance funding. The budget subcommittees will need to consider and decide the amount of funding that will be allocated to maintenance.

This bill will require debate at the appropriation stage of funding. It will eliminate the current finger pointing exercise when assets are not cared for.

Section 1 amends the executive budget act to require the proposed budget will present, separately, the annual appropriation for maintenance, repair, renewal and replacement of public buildings and facilities.

Section 2 adds definitions of "maintenance and repair" and "renewal and replacement".

Section 3 provides an effective date of July 1, 1998.