This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.
-29- [[3 column table]] [[headers are underlined]] (000's) [[appropriation account]] | FY 1988 Request to Congress | FY 1989 Proposed Request to OMB Salaries and Expenses | $204,862 | $219,667 Construction: -Whipple Observatory | 4,470 | - -Tropical Research Institute | - | 2,900 -General Post Office Building | - | 3,000 -Construction Planning and Design | - | 1,300 Zoo Construction | 5,150 | 5,600 Restoration & Renovation of Buildings | 14,254 | 40,000 Total | $228,736 | $272,467 [[/3 column table]] An amount of $219,667,000 is proposed in the Salaries and Expenses account, an increase of $14.8 million over the fiscal year 1988 request to Congress. Of this amount $5.9 million covers inflationary costs in utilities, pay, rent and other expenses including the increased costs for the new Federal Employees Retirement System. The remaining $8.9 plus $.3 million in funds available for redirection will provide $9.2 million in program growth of which $4.2 million falls within the OMB target for fiscal year 1989 and $5.0 million over target. The program growth emphasizes research initiatives, collections management and facility support costs. Important research projects include support for the National Museum of Natural History's biological diversity program ($315,000) and a molecular systematics laboratory ($650,000), the National Zoological Park's molecular and systematics program ($200,000), the National Air and Space Museums's expansion of its professional research staff ($125,000), and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory's submillimeter astronomy program and MMT conversion ($880,000). Funding increases sought for facilities support cover important programs in the heath and safety area ($400,000), security and maintenance costs at the General Post Office Building ($570,000) which will transfer to the Smithsonian in fiscal year 1988, additional security staff for the Quadrangle ($221,000), and staff for general building maintenance ($390,000). Funds are provided for the collections activities of several Smithsonian museums ($1.6 million). These activities include the purchase of storage equipment at the Freer Gallery of Art, an increase in collections management staff at the National Museum of Natural History, and a project which will convert the National Museum of American History's collection data to advanced automated systems. Also included are increases for projects relating to the Columbus Quincentenary ($288,000). Costs for the Personnel Payroll System and the new financial system are included for the first time in the Federal budget ($600,000) as OMB has indicated improvement of such systems is a priority. A total of $52.8 million is requested for design, construction, improvement, and renovation of the Institution's facilities. In the Restoration and Renovation account, funding of $40.0 million ($26.2