Legislative Audit Finds $94.9 Million Surplus In House, Senate Operating Accounts

The Legislative Audit Advisory Commission Wednesday released the findings of the FY 2016-17 fiscal year audit of legislative accounts which found a surplus of $94.9 million in Senate and House operating accounts, that’s down from a surplus of $118 million in FY 2015-16.

The audit was carried out by Boyer and Ritter LLC of Camp Hill.

“As evidenced recently, it is important to maintain an adequate reserve to ensure the independent and continued operation of the General Assembly in the event of a government shutdown, including one created by a budget stalemate, for example,” said Rep. Mark Keller (R-Perry), Chair of the Commission.

“We strive to be as open and transparent with the citizens of Pennsylvania as possible about the findings of the annual audit, which are fully accessible and easy to comprehend,” Rep. Keller added.

Below is a breakdown of the reserves included in the audit (as of June 30, 2017):

-- House of Representatives – $35,742,624.

-- Senate – $10,566,857.

-- Legislative Reference Bureau – $7,195,638.

-- Legislative Budget and Finance Committee – $1,758,767.

-- Legislative Data Processing Committee – $23,905,555.

-- Joint State Government Commission – $1,089,189.

-- Local Government Commission – $853,566.

-- Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control Commission – $447,976.

-- LAAC – $373,500.

-- Independent Regulatory Review Commission – $1,790,044.

-- Capitol Preservation Committee – $3,322,655.

-- Independent Fiscal Office – $3,092,999.

-- Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission – $1,759,999.

-- Commonwealth Mail Processing Center – $5,915,516.

-- Center for Rural Pennsylvania – $612,800.

Current Commission members include: Keller, Rep. Florindo Fabrizio (D-Erie), Sen. Patrick Browne (R-Lehigh), Sen. Lawrence Farnese (D-Philadelphia), Peter Barsz (House appointee), Jeffrey Berdahl (House appointee), Gregory Jordan (Senate appointee) and Ira Weiss (Senate appointee).

The LAAC was formed as a result of Act 151 of 1970. The commission consists of eight members, including a majority and a minority member of the House of Representatives and two public members appointed by the House speaker; and a majority and a minority member of the Senate and two public members appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate.

A copy of the audit will be available online Commission’s webpage.