Budget Estimates for Fiscal Year 1981

A presentation was made of the financial requirements to carry out the responsibilities of GAO for fiscal year 1981. The testimony emphasized GAO plans to meet an increased workload with no increase in staff resources and summarized some of the accomplishments of GAO in the fiscal year ended September 30, 1979. The quantifiable dollar savings attributable to GAO since 1966 totals $14 billion, ten times the total funds appropriated to GAO during the same period. In addition, GAO frequently recommends management improvements, the effects of which cannot be readily quantified. GAO has two major roles: independent auditor and evaluator of the operations of the executive agencies and support arm for the Congress. In many instances, new legislation specifically requires GAO to perform special audits or evaluations in stated timeframes. Such new responsibilities cannot always be anticipated and must be regarded as a normal part of the job to which GAO is assigned. Although GAO will continue to absorb increases wherever possible, the "Sunset" proposals currently under consideration by the Congress could demand such a large increase in necessary staff-years that GAO would be required to request a supplemental appropriation. In performing its support role for the Congress, GAO responds to the requests of committees and members for audit and evaluation work and testimony on issues relating to its responsibilities. The GAO budget request has been developed on the basis that such work must be performed within available resources; if adjustments become necessary, GAO will have no choice but to reprogram from work required under continuing GAO responsibilities. GAO also works closely with the Congressional Budget Office, the Office of Technology Assessment, and the Congressional Research Service to define their respective roles and help committees and members draw on their services; a forthcoming paper will assist in clarifying the distinctions between their jobs. Given the current need to assure the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of Federal programs, GAO considers appropriation of the resources necessary to do its job a wise investment in better government.