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[[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