§ 9-2-1014. Report required with budget request; format and contents of report; compilation of compendium of agency reports; distribution of copies. [Effective July 1, 2023]

(a) An agency’s budget request to the department shall be accompanied by a written, comprehensive report of the programs, objectives, activities and condition covering the previous fiscal period. The report shall be in a format developed by the department and the department of administration and information, in conjunction with the agency and the legislative service office. Notice of the format requirements shall be forwarded to each agency no later than July 15 of each year. The report shall detail the fiscal affairs of the reporting agency including receipts and expenditures and make recommendations for improving the agency’s programs. The report shall include an annual performance report which provides a means of evaluation of the outcomes included in an agency strategic plan required by W.S. 28-1-115 and 28-1-116.

(b) Upon the receipt of all agency reports, the department of administration and information shall compile and index the information into a single compendium that will facilitate its use by the governor and the legislature. When preparing the compendium neither the department of administration and information nor the state budget department shall in any manner alter or amend the information received from an agency without that agency’s written direction. The report of any agency to the department is available pursuant to the Public Records Act.

(c) Electronic or printed copies of the compendium and the state budget document shall be submitted to the governor and to each legislator. Printed copies of the compendium shall be furnished to the department and the state library division within the department of administration and information, the state auditor, the department of audit, the legislative service office and to any legislator requesting a printed copy.

(d) For each submitted budget the joint appropriations committee shall review any budget shortfall or structural budget deficit identified by the governor or by the committee for the periods specified in W.S. 9-2-1013(d)(v). The committee shall report to the legislature the governor’s recommendations regarding any budget shortfall or structural budget deficit and the committee’s recommendations to the legislature to address a shortfall or deficit. The recommendations shall include:

(i) Specific or general budget reductions;

(ii) Immediate contingent appropriations. Any recommendation for a contingent appropriation from the legislative stabilization reserve account shall be limited so that the total of all such contingent appropriations, together with any appropriation under W.S. 9-2-1014.3, in any fiscal year does not exceed the lesser of one hundred eight million seven hundred thousand dollars ($108,700,000.00) or five percent (5%) of the balance of the account as of the first day of the fiscal year in which the recommendation is made;

(iii) Recommended expenditure of funds from the legislative stabilization reserve account and other expendable funds; and

(iv) Temporary redistribution of revenue streams.

(e) In making its recommendations, the committee shall consider:

(i) The forecasted length and amount of the shortfall or deficit;

(ii) The amount of funds available within the legislative stabilization reserve account and other expendable funds, and limitations on recommended contingent appropriations from the legislative stabilization reserve account under this section and W.S. 9-2-1013(d)(v);

(iii) Services which would be affected by the budget shortfall or deficit, including any constitutional requirement or lack of a constitutional requirement to provide the services;

(iv) The ability to restructure programs and available revenues to address the budget shortfall or deficit;

(v) Current and forecasted short term and long term economic conditions of the state;

(vi) Recommended depletion rates of expendable funds based upon:

(A) Prudent short and long term savings policies for state government; and

(B) The state’s revenue structure.