GPO Sees Cut in Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2012
WASHINGTON, DC—Dec. 22, 2011—According to Public Printer Bill Boarman, the U.S. Government Printing Office’s (GPO) total funding for fiscal year 2012 (FY12) will be $126.2 million, representing a reduction of about 6.6 percent from the appropriations provided for fiscal year 2011 (FY11). GPO’s funding is provided through three separate accounts:
• The Congressional Printing and Binding Appropriation covers the cost of information products in digital and print formats that GPO produces for Congress. About 70 percent of this cost is for preparing the electronic files used for both digital access and printing. For FY12, this account is funded at $90.7 million, representing a reduction of about 3.1 percent from the amount provided for FY11.
• The Salaries and Expenses Appropriation of the Superintendent of Documents primarily covers the cost of the Federal Depository Library Program, which works in partnership with 1,250 libraries nationwide to provide the public with access to Federal Government information. For FY12, this program will be funded at $37.7 million, based on $35 million provided by H.R. 2055 and an additional $2.7 million transferred from unused funds left over from FY05. The overall funding for the account represents a reduction of about 5.4 percent from FY11.
• The GPO Revolving Fund receives appropriated funds for specific technology investment purposes. For FY12, $500,000 is provided that will be used to help finance ongoing development of GPO’s Federal Digital System (FDsys), the online system that provides permanent digital access to authenticated Federal Government information. While appropriations to this account represents a reduction of about 70 percent from the funding provided for FY11, GPO has improved its own investment capability significantly over the past year by aggressively collecting payments owed by Federal agencies.
Additionally, H.R. 2055 requires Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress to work with the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) to conduct a review of GPO. Noting that past studies of GPO “have supported GPO’s business model as the most efficient way in which the government should operate its printing and information dissemination responsibilities,” the conferees on H.R. 2055 requested the CRS/NAPA study to provide an update because of continuing technology changes and to identify “additional cost saving opportunities beyond what GPO has already instituted, if any,” and for other purposes.
In commenting on H.R. 2055, Boarman said, “Combined with the cost-saving measures we have carried out this past year, including reducing our workforce through a buyout and sharply reduced spending on overtime, travel, and other nonessential overhead expenses, the funding level for FY12 will enable us to continue supporting the information needs of Congress, Federal agencies, and the public.
“I deeply appreciate the support we received from the Members and staff of the Senate and House appropriations committees throughout the appropriations process. GPO achieved positive financial results this past year with reduced appropriations for FY11, and I am confident we are well-positioned to do the same again in FY12.”
About the U.S. Government Printing Office
With 2,200 employees, GPO is the Federal Government's primary resource for producing, procuring, cataloging, indexing, authenticating, disseminating, and preserving the official information products of the U.S. Government in both digital and tangible formats. GPO is responsible for the production and distribution of information products and services for all three branches of the Federal Government, including U.S. passports for the Department of State as well as the official publications of Congress, the White House, and other Federal agencies. In addition to publication sales, GPO provides for permanent public access to Federal Government information at no charge through GPO’s Federal Digital System (www.fdsys.gov) and through partnerships with approximately 1,220 libraries nationwide participating in the Federal Depository Library Program.
Source: GPO.
