Legislative Update
Gene Causby
04/16/09 

STATE BUDGET FREEZE
Questions and Answers

We just received this memo regarding the state budget spending freeze as it pertains to us. You can click the link provided to get the full memo. We will update this list regularly as we receive new questions. We hope this helps disseminate
the information quickly to all LEAs since many LEAs share most of these concerns. We encourage you to share this information with your support staff, program directors, etc.
"This directive pertains to all PRC's, with state textbooks being the ONLY exception. The responses to the questions below relate to the use of state funds. Local and federal funds ar unaffected by this directive.

The following are exerpts from that memo:

Purchase Orders for Goods:

#8. Question: Our Driver’s Education program has outstanding purchase orders for vehicles.
Answer: Several LEAs have asked this question, we will need to check with the Office of State Budget and Management on outstanding Purchase orders on vehicles.

PURCHASE ORDERS FOR SERVICES

#18. Question: Our Driver’s Education program has service agreements with driving schools. Must these be cancelled?
Answer: No, these service agreements may continue.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

#30. Questions: If staff development is already planned and encumbered, can it happen? Or will anything not related directly to the classroom need to be canceled at this point?
Answer: If the staff development activity has not already taken place you cannot use state funds to pay for that activity. Any activity requiring the expenditure of state funds not directly related to the continued direct classroom instructional activities for this fiscal year must be canceled, if no other funds can be used to pay for the obligations.