§11.  Budgets

Section 11.(A)  Budget Estimate.  The governor shall submit to the legislature, at the time and in the form fixed by law, a budget estimate for the next fiscal year setting forth all proposed state expenditures.  This budget shall include a recommendation for appropriations from the state general fund and from dedicated funds, except funds allocated by Article VII, Section 4, Paragraphs (D) and (E), which shall not exceed the official forecast of the Revenue Estimating Conference and the expenditure limit for the fiscal year.  The recommendation shall also comply with the provisions of Article VII, Section 10(D).  This budget shall include a recommendation for funding of state salary supplements for full-time law enforcement and fire protection officers of the state, as provided in Article VII, Section 10(D)(3) of this constitution.

(B)  Operating Budget.  The governor shall cause to be submitted a general appropriation bill for proposed ordinary operating expenditures which shall be in conformity with the recommendations for appropriations contained in the budget estimate.  The governor may cause to be submitted a bill or bills to raise additional revenues with proposals for the use of these revenues.

(C)  Capital Budget.  The governor shall submit to the legislature, at each regular session, a proposed five-year capital outlay program and request implementation of the first year of the program.  Prior to inclusion in the comprehensive capital budget which the legislature adopts, each capital improvement project shall be evaluated through a feasibility study, as defined by the legislature, which shall include an analysis of need and estimates of construction and operating costs.  The legislature shall provide by law for procedures, standards, and criteria for the evaluation of such feasibility studies and shall set the schedule of submission of such feasibility studies which shall take effect not later than December thirty-first following the first regular session convening after this Paragraph takes effect.  These procedures, standards, and criteria for evaluation of such feasibility studies cannot be changed or altered except by a separate legislative instrument approved by a favorable vote of two-thirds of the elected members of each house of the legislature.  For those projects not eligible for funding under the provisions of Article VII, Section 27 of this constitution, the request for implementation of the first year of the program shall include a list of the proposed projects in priority order based on the evaluation of the feasibility studies submitted.  Capital outlay projects approved by the legislature shall be made a part of the comprehensive state capital budget, which shall be adopted by the legislature.

Amended by Acts 1990, No. 1096, §1, approved Oct. 6, 1990, eff. Nov. 8, 1990; Acts 1993, No. 1045, §1, approved Oct. 16, 1993, eff. Nov. 18, 1993; Acts 2001, No. 1234, §1, approved Nov. 5, 2002, eff. Dec. 11, 2002.