Banner Gif

[Dome]Interim Calendar and Briefing

November 29, 1995

Contents:
CALENDAR OF SCHEDULED MEETINGS
AGENDA INFORMATION REGARDING SCHEDULED MEETINGS
BRIEFINGS - INFORMATION REGARDING RECENT MEETINGS

Calendar of Scheduled Meetings

Wednesday, December 6, 1995
Senate File 13 (Parental Notification) Conference Committee
10:00 a.m., Room 22
Friday, December 8, 1995
Iowa Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations - Tentative
10:00 a.m., Room 22
Tuesday, December 12, 1995
Administrative Rules Review Committee
10:00 a.m., Room 22
Housing Development Study Committee - Tentative
1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Room 116
Wednesday, December 13, 1995
Administrative Rules Review Committee
9:00 a.m., Room 22
Business Taxation Study Committee - Tentative
9:00 a.m., Speaker's Conference Room
Thursday, December 14, 1995
Business Taxation Study Committee - Tentative
9:00 a.m., Speaker's Conference Room
Public Retirement Systems Study Committee - Tentative
10:00 a.m., Room 22
Intermediate Criminal Sanctions Task Force
10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Room 116
Friday, December 15, 1995
One-Call Statewide Underground Facility Notification Study Committee
10:00 a.m., Room 22
Thursday, December 21, 1995
Fiscal Committee of the Legislative Council
10:00 a.m., Location to be announced

Agenda Information Regarding Scheduled Meetings

Senate File 13 (Parental Notification) Conference Committee

Co-chairperson: Senator Elaine Szymoniak
Co-chairperson: Representative Dan Boddicker

Iowa Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations - TENTATIVE

Chairperson: Don Meisner
Vice Chairperson: Barry Stetzel

Administrative Rules Review Committee

Co-chairperson: Senator Berl E. Priebe
Co-chairperson: Representative Janet Metcalf

Housing Development Study Committee- TENTATIVE

Co-chairperson: Senator Michael Gronstal
Co-chairperson: Representative Libby Jacobs

Business Taxation Study Committee- TENTATIVE

Co-chairperson: Senator Tom Vilsack
Co-chairperson: Representative Roger Halvorson

Public Retirement Systems Study CommitteeTENTATIVE

Co-chairperson: Senator John P. Kibbie
Co-chairperson: Representative Mona Martin

Intermediate Criminal Sanctions Task Force

One-Call Statewide Underground Facility Notification Study Committee

Co-chairperson: Senator Dennis Black
Co-chairperson: Representative James Van Fossen

Fiscal Committee of the Legislative Council

Co-chairperson: Senator Larry Murphy
Co-chairperson: Representative David Millagwe

BRIEFINGS - Information Regarding Recent Meetings

FISCAL COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

November 21, 1995,

ICN Update - 461 Task Force Report.
Ms. Mary Shipman, Legislative Fiscal Bureau, reported that the Iowa Telecommunications and Technology Commission recommended continued state ownership of the Iowa Communications Network. Mr. Jon Studer, Legislative Fiscal Bureau, updated the Committee on the Iowa Communications Network operating revenues and expenses and FY 1996 budgeting.
Federal Update.
Ms. Nancy Payne, Iowa's State/Federal Office in Washington, D.C., updated the Committee on the status of the remaining federal budget bills. She stated that 7 of the 13 bills are still unresolved at this time. Mr. Jon Neiderbach, Legislative Fiscal Bureau, discussed the status of congressional action on Medicare, Medical Assistance, and Welfare Reform.
Fiscal Year 1995 Reversions Retained for Technology and Training.
Ms. Darlene Kruse, Legislative Fiscal Bureau, explained that departments are allowed to retain 50 percent of the reversions from operations for FY 1995 and FY 1996 for technological enhancements and employee training. Ms. Jan Clausen, Division Administrator for Fiscal Management, Department of Human Services, informed the Committee that the department plans to use carry forward funds for computer upgrades and updated software, establishment of ICN classrooms, audio response unit, fiber backbone for institution computer network, and staff training. Ms. Joan Moll, Department of Human Rights, stated that funds would be used for training of Commissioners in the areas of community service block grants and energy assistance weatherization. Mr. Ross Harrison and Mr. Mike Carrier, Department of Natural Resources, stated that the department hopes to provide computer access for various state parks.
Innovations Fund Update.
Ms. Valerie Thacker, Legislative Fiscal Bureau, discussed the Innovations Fund which loans seed money to departments to encourage innovation and technological improvements in state government. Mr. George Price, Department of Management, explained the following applications will be forwarded to the loan committee for consideration: Department of Revenue and Finance for automating field offices, calculated to save $1,251,000 over 5 years; Department of Natural Resources for energy efficiency improvements, calculated to save $300,000 over 5 years; Iowa Communications Network for a computer building system, calculated to save $500,000 over 5 years; and Department of General Services for bar coding, calculated to save $893,000 over 5 years.
Information Management Coordinator.
Ms. Valerie Thacker discussed the position of Information Management Coordinator created during the 1995 Legislative Session. Mr. George Price, Department of Management introduced Mr. C. Douglass Couto as the State's first Information Management Coordinator.
Privatization Efforts.
Mr. Paul Carlson, Department of Management, provided information on contracting and privatization initiatives of the executive branch agencies.
He informed the committee that the Alcoholic Beverage Division has privatized receipt, warehousing, and delivery of alcoholic beverages with annual state savings of $800,000; the Iowa Veterans Home has privatized food service and housekeeping services with an annual savings of state and federal moneys of $1,100,000; the 5th Judicial District has saved $100,000 of state funds with a 48-bed women's correctional facility; and the Department of Employment Services has saved $158,000 in state and federal funds for the privatization of grounds maintenance, janitorial services, refuse removal, and heat, ventilation and air conditioning maintenance.
General Fund Revenues after Expenditure Limitations.
Mr. Dennis Prouty, Director, Legislative Fiscal Bureau, discussed the Cash Reserve Fund, the GAAP Deficit Reduction Account, the Iowa Economic Emergency Fund, the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund, and the flow of general fund revenues after the expenditure limitations were considered for actual Fiscal Year 1995, estimated FY 1996, and estimated FY 1997 revenues. Mr. Jon Muller, Legislative Fiscal Bureau, explained the reasoning behind the one-time $30 million increase in accruals to the general fund due to individual income tax changes and discussed the revenue history for the general fund from FY 1985 - FY 1995, and various general fund revenue growth scenarios through FY 2001.
Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund
Mr. Dave Reynolds, Legislative Fiscal Bureau, reviewed expenditures and reversion dates for moneys allocated from the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund for FY 1996. Mr. James E. Rowings, Iowa State University, stated that ISU's report which was prepared for the Capitol Projects Committee of the Legislative Council indicates that the state's vertical infrastructure needs are approximately $9.8 billion over the next ten years. He showed a chart which divided the expenses in the following manner: $2.6 billion for cities and counties; $1.6 billion for state facilities; $3.4 billion for public schools; $1.1 billion for community hospitals; and $1.1 billion for wastewater treatment. He stated that the state does not have an accurate measure of its buildings and suggested forming a Capital Assets Commission to conduct a quadrennial needs study to prioritize expenditures.
State Indebtedness and State Finances.
Mr. Dave Reynolds, Legislative Fiscal Bureau, provided information on the State's indebtedness by type of debt. He stated that the total outstanding debt as of June 30, 1995, was $2.612 billion. Mr. Carl Cook, Chief Financial Officer for the State Treasurer's Office, and Mr. Robert Helmick, Bond Attorney, discussed the potential for early retirement of certain state bonds. Mr. Cook discussed the current bond rating for the state, the factors that the financial community takes into account when reviewing state finances, cash management practices in Iowa, current interest rates and market characteristics, the process for making financial decisions, and the advantages and disadvantages of having cash on hand.
Next Meeting.
The next meeting of the Legislative Fiscal Committee is scheduled for December 19th.

Back to top of Interim Information

Return To HomeIowa General Assembly

Site index Index

Comments? webmaster@legis.iowa.gov

Last update: Sun Dec 24 22:52:03 CST 1995
URL: /DOCS/GA/76GA/Interim/1995/calendar/951129.htm
sw