Government

$42M in Tax Refunds Ready; Lawmakers Slam BIR’s $734K Rent; OMB Launches New Oversight Unit

When the Office of Management and Budget and the Bureau of Internal Revenue jointly appeared before the Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance on Tuesday, both entities promised to reduce spending as global economic conditions tighten.  OMB officials presented lawmakers with a proposed budget of $46.5 million, including $6.4 million of which will come from the general fund, $38 million from federal funds, and approximately $2 million in indirect costs. The budget covers 51 full-time staff, inclusive of 13 “new and vacant positions” expected to be filled in the upcoming fiscal year. According to the budget book, OMB anticipates spending $2.9 million on personnel, $1.3 million on fringe benefits, $416,736 on supplies, $1.5 million on other services, and will place $100,000 into the single payer utility account.  Of most interest to the committee was OMB’s revelation that it will “establish a division that replaces the third-party fiduciary,” according to Director Julio Rhymer...