27-104-17 - Allotment period; time for filing of budget estimates; restriction of agency expenditures; special reserve funds; emergency measures; prior approval required to hire certain retired employ - Mississippi Statutes

§ 27-104-17. Allotment period; time for filing of budget estimates; restriction of agency expenditures; special reserve funds; emergency measures; prior approval required to hire certain retired employees under contract.
 

(1)  An allotment period shall be one-half (1/2) of twelve (12) months, and expenditure one-half (1/2) of the appropriated amount, unless otherwise specified in the appropriation bill or justified by the agency to the Department of Finance and Administration, and the first allotment period shall commence on July 1. Estimates shall be filed with the Department of Finance and Administration not later than the first day of the month preceding the beginning period. 
 

Provided further, that the Department of Finance and Administration may, in its discretion, restrict an agency to monthly allotment period when it becomes evident that an agency's rate of expenditure to date indicates this restriction will be necessary to prevent depletion of its appropriation prior to the close of the fiscal year or when the condition of the State General Fund requires monthly monitoring and control of the rate of General Fund expenditures. 

(2)  Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3), and unless otherwise specified in the agency appropriation bill, in the event any emergency or unforeseen circumstances shall arise, the agency head may authorize increases in major objects of expenditure within each specific budget within each appropriation bill in total amounts not to exceed ten percent (10%) of the appropriated amount of each object, provided that other major objects of expenditure are decreased by a corresponding dollar amount. No transfers shall be authorized which increase or decrease the major object of expenditure "Salaries, Wages and Fringe Benefits," or which increase the major object of expenditure "Capital Outlay - Equipment." The agency head shall submit written justification for the transfer to the Legislative Budget Office, the Department of Finance and Administration, and the State Auditor, on or before the fifteenth of the month prior to the effective date of the transfer. The transfer shall be effective the first working day of the month following timely submissions required herein. In cases of extreme hardship, certified in writing by the agency head and submitted with timely submissions required herein, the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration, in his discretion, may authorize an earlier effective date for the transfer. 

(3)  From and after March 12, 2009 and until June 30, 2009, due to the unforeseen financial circumstances, the agency head of any state agency, with the approval of the Department of Finance and Administration, may authorize increases in major objects of expenditure within each specific budget within each appropriation bill, provided that other major objects of expenditure are decreased by a corresponding dollar amount. No state agency shall take any action to promote or otherwise award salary increases through reallocation, reclassification, realignment, education benchmark, career ladder, or any other means to increase salaries of employees or positions unless specifically exempted by the following conditions: the immediate replacement of a departing employee with an individual from within state service or a new hire at a salary level equivalent to that of the departing employees or the emergency appointment of nurses, pharmacists or other health care professionals at a salary to be determined by the State Personnel Board. The agency head shall submit written justification for the transfer(s) to the Department of Finance and Administration, the Legislative Budget Office and the State Auditor on or before the fifteenth of the month prior to the effective date of the transfer. The transfer shall be effective the first working day of the month following timely submissions and approval required herein. In cases of extreme hardship, certified in writing by the agency head and timely submitted as required herein, the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration, in his discretion, may authorize an earlier effective date for the transfer. 

(4)  No former employee who is receiving State of Mississippi retirement benefits shall be hired under contract for an amount exceeding Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) a year without prior approval by an agency's proper governing board or authority. Upon approval of such contracts a written report shall be submitted detailing the cost and need of such contract services to the Chairmen and members of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees. 
 

Sources: Laws,  1984, ch. 488, § 82; Laws, 1985, ch. 525, § 4; Laws, 1989, ch. 532, § 59; Laws, 1989, ch. 544, § 18; Laws, 1991, ch. 603, § 1; Laws, 1992, ch. 484 § 14; Laws, 1996, ch. 308, § 1; Laws, 2005, 5th Ex Sess, ch. 19, § 1; Laws, 2009, ch. 329, § 1, eff from and after passage (approved Mar. 12, 2009.)