Opinion on the Legal Program Levels in Fiscal Year 1984 for Three Loan Programs Administered by the Small Business Administration

This document regards a GAO opinion as to the legal program levels in fiscal year 1984 for three loan programs administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA). The question arises in light of what SBA claims is a conflict between the spending levels established for these programs in SBA's authorizing legislation and the levels provided for the same programs in SBA's appropriation for the 1984 fiscal year. From informal discussion with staff of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), we understand that OMS approved SBA's request to apportion these funds based on the amounts contained in the lump-sum appropriation. It appears that SBA has been making obligations and expenditures at a rate based on the higher levels indicated in the conference report.