S.20.1-15: Southern Budget Act (Statute)

[West_Midlander]

I was waiting to propose a budget based on new calculations by the Comptroller General. However, the office of the Comptroller General had remained vacant for months, including my entire tenure as Governor. [Note: The Office is still vacant as Clyde, who was nominated yesterday, has to be confirmed by the Senate.] Without access to the spreadsheet for calculating the Southern budget, as I am not the CG, I don't believe I can do more in the interest of introducing a new budget for the region. As I am not the CG, I do not believe it would be within the bounds of this Office to attempt to calculate the cost of legislation passed throughout the past year and without access to the Southern government expense and revenue spreadsheet.

Thank you,

- Governor West_Midlander

Changes made from the 2019 Southern Budget:

- Slight amendment of the budget introduced by Gov. YoungTexan last year.
- 2019s changed to 2020.
- %s where spending by category was increased or decreased (last year) are changed to 100% as spending levels are maintained from last year*

*I don't think it would be responsible to increase or decrease spending without knowing if we still have a surplus after considering bills passed in the past year. I assume we still have a small, but reduced, surplus but I am unsure. The figures for the reserves and balance amount are from last year and other figures are in need of being updated once Clyde is confirmed as CG by the Senate.

If this bill is not yet on the Chamber floor, I will edit this post with Clyde's new figures if/when he is confirmed by the Senate. Otherwise, this bill can be amended on the Chamber floor to account for the new calculations.

The quoted portions explain my reasoning for introducing the budget in the way I did, when I did. My principal goal is fiscal responsibility.

I think it would be best if the Delegates debate the budget and then wait for Clyde to be confirmed by the Senate and to make his calculations at which point this bill can be amended to account for the new surplus and reserve values and spending on bills passed in the past year.

[West_Midlander]

Thank you, Mr. Comptroller General, for your good work done and with commendable rapidity.

I encourage the Delegates of this body to take up the version of the bill as amended by CG Clyde (to account for the newly calculated values) since the changes are made only in the interest of correctness (so the current calculations will be included in the final version of the bill).

Afterward, the Delegates may debate spending or taxation alterations (to what I have proposed) if they so choose.

[West_Midlander]

We have a brief lame-duck session lasting until Friday. If the Speaker and Delegate Spark do not wish to pursue a vote on the budget during the election, I understand that, but I encourage the Chamber to take a vote before new officeholders are sworn in because the budget is already delayed due to the office of CG having (previously) been vacant for a long while.

[West_Midlander]

We have a brief lame-duck session lasting until Friday. If the Speaker and Delegate Spark do not wish to pursue a vote on the budget during the election, I understand that, but I encourage the Chamber to take a vote before new officeholders are sworn in because the budget is already delayed due to the office of CG having (previously) been vacant for a long while.

If you wish we can move on this immediately after the voting ends.

Sounds good. Many thanks, Mr. Speaker.

[West_Midlander]

4 ayes, 0 nays. This bill passes.

x West_Midlander