Analysis Department of Agriculture Food Safety Positions Analyst: Paul Siebert Request: Increase the Other Funds expenditure limitation by $430,590 and add three positions (1.75 FTE) to the food safety program. Recommendation: Approve the request. Analysis: The Department of Agriculture (ODA) is requesting to increase the Other Funds expenditure limitation by $430,590 to add three permanent positions (1.75 FTE) to the Food Safety program, which will allow them to increase the inspection frequency of regulated facilities. The Department reports that they are currently unable to complete inspections on a regular basis. ODA was only able to complete 68% of the 12,186 inspections scheduled during 2013. The Department reports that to better insure public health, the frequency of inspections of licensed food establishments needs to be increased. The Food Safety program has a sufficient cash balance and fee revenues to support the additional expenditures through this biennium, and potentially through the 2015-17 biennium, without a fee increase. The Department reports that if a fee increase is necessary next biennium, the Department does not anticipate having to raise fees by more than the 3 percent already authorized in statute. The Legislative Fiscal Office recommends that an increase of $430,590 Other Funds expenditure limitation for the Food Safety program and authorization to add three permanent positions (1.75 FTE) to the program be included in the budget reconciliation bill during the 2014 session. Legislative Fiscal Office 2014 Joint Committee on Ways and Means