Budget director: Tighten the purse strings

By John Christian Hopkins
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Office of Management and Budget Director Domenic Beyal briefed the new Budget & Finance Committee members on the state of the Nation's financial status Tuesday and included a plea to hold the purse strings tight when it came to approving supplemental appropriations from the Undesignated, Unreserved Fund.

The problem with the supplemental funding system is myriad; including depleting the UUF, lack of committee review and, often, budget forms filled out incorrectly, said Beyal.

Often, during council session, delegates will add spending amendments or riders to existing legislation, seeking "emergency" funding. Beyal noted that 46 of the most recent funding requests by delegates were made through this supplemental fashion.

During the council's recent winter session, some delegates were hurriedly putting together supplement packages in the North Conference Room and rushing to get them introduced on the council floor, Beyal said.

The supplemental funding by delegates using the now-scrutinized discretionary funding method surpassed $8 million, Beyal noted.

B & F also needs to be aware of how much money departments and divisions have in carryover, because often it will ask B & F for more money than it needs, Beyal said. Another problem to watch out for is when the UUF is used to fund recurring costs, he said.

"The Judiciary will do that. In their case, they don't care where the funds come from as long as it's U.S. currency," said Beyal. The Din Power Authority is also frequently seeking more funding, he added.

The policies and rules may need to be looked at, suggested Delegate Nelson Begaye. He said many delegates use the supplemental funding approach because it is easier and quicker than following the normal budget request route, Begaye added.

"We have our work cut out for us," said B & F Chairman LoRenzo C. Bates. "There is obviously a loophole."

"If we're going to make any changes, then the sooner we do it, the better," said Vice Chairman Leonard Chee. He said he usually votes against those types of last-minute requests because "we're legislators, not a welfare office."

But Delegate Lorenzo Curley saw no reason to let money sit untouched in the UUF when other needs are pressing.

"This is extra money that is just sits there. It's too tempting," said Curley. "There's nothing magical about that money."

The thing to do is to set up a process so the money in the UUF is used efficiently, Curley said.

John Christian Hopkins can be reached at hopkins1960@hotmail.com or by calling 505-371-5443.