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Food Safety and Inspection
Service United States Department of Agriculture Washington, D.C. 20250-3700 |
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Food Safety and Inspection
Service United States Department of Agriculture Washington, D.C. 20250-3700 |
Communications to Congress
August 15, 2000
The Honorable Thad Cochran
Chairman, Committee on Appropriations,
Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural
Development, and Related Agencies
United States Senate
136 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Mr. Chairman:
Enclosed is the quarterly report of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), which provides an update on budget execution, staffing levels and staffing needs for the third quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2000. This report was requested by the Conference Report accompanying the FY 2000 Agriculture Appropriations Act, P.L. 106-78.
Cumulative obligations through the third quarter for FY 2000 ending March 31, 2000, are estimated at $467.9 million, which is 72 percent of the FSIS net annual appropriation of $649.1 million. This represents slightly less than 75 percent of the net annual appropriation because some obligations for certain program costs, such as contracted services and equipment purchases, don’t normally occur until the fourth quarter of the fiscal year. In addition, significant increases in pay and benefits were not in effect until late in the third quarter when the hiring of inplant food inspectors accelerated significantly. These additional salary and benefit costs will be reflected in the fourth quarter expenses.
We are very pleased to report that FSIS has not only reached its goal of 7,610 inplant permanent full-time employment by June 30, 2000, but ended the quarter slightly over the target level. As the line graph indicates in the enclosed report, the rise in employment from 7,440 in the first quarter to 7,617 by the end of the third quarter yielded an increase in inplant employment of 177. Because of higher attrition than normal, FSIS had to hire 470 new employees from October 1, 1999, through June 30, 2000, which is more than usually hired for an entire year. FSIS will continue the hiring efforts to maintain at least this level through the end of September. Also, other-than-permanent (OTP) staff years continue to be a significant source of inplant slaughter inspection coverage. FSIS planned an increase of 50 staff years over FY 1999 actual staff year usage level. The focus on permanent full-time hiring and the very low unemployment rate has caused hiring of part-time employees to be very difficult, thereby resulting in OTP usage to be somewhat lower than expected. All efforts are being made to increase the employment and usage in this area.
The inplant slaughter staffing profile included in the report reflects coverage of positions at approximately 600 slaughter and combination slaughter and processing establishments. The difference between the number of positions and permanent full-time staffing is the number of other types of staffing used to provide full coverage of all slaughter positions. Other types of staffing are defined in the report and their numerical distribution represents the predominant pattern of slaughter inspection coverage during the reporting period. This report also reflects the changes in positions and inspectors from the beginning of the quarter to the end, which continues to show increased demand by industry for inspection services.
We have provided you with copies of the report for all Republican Members of the Subcommittee. Under separate cover, we have provided Senator Kohl with copies for the Democratic Subcommittee Members. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to call the FSIS Office of Management at (202) 720-4425.
Sincerely,
THOMAS J. BILLY
Administrator
Enclosure
For Further Information Contact:
FSIS Congressional and Public Affairs Staff
Phone: (202) 720-3897
Fax: (202) 720-5704
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