Fiscal Year 1988 Budget Estimates for the General Accounting Office

GAO testified on its fiscal year (FY) 1988 budget request and highlighted its work on special issues during 1986. GAO requested $379.5 million to fund 5,200 average positions, which was $67.1 million greater than its FY 1987 request. Forty-seven percent of this increase represented mandatory pay and related costs associated with existing service levels and increases in personnel to achieve required responsibilities. In 1986, GAO: (1) estimated the size of the deficit and the reduction needed to reach the target after the President signed the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act; (2) applied and reviewed any sequester order issued in compliance with the act; (3) evaluated defense-related work, which resulted in almost $10.4 billion in measurable benefits; (4) assisted Congress in analyzing nuclear energy safety issues; (5) identified problems relating to farm credit; (6) assessed the effectiveness of foreign aid; and (7) continued to conduct general management reviews of federal agencies to identify ways to increase efficiency and effectiveness. The GAO budget request represented the funding necessary to keep pace with the increase in the congressional work load, provide the tools necessary to perform more effective and efficient work, and safeguard the health and well-being of its staff.