[Budget of the United States Government]
[VI. Investing in the Common Good: Program Performance in Federal Functions]
[29 General Government]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


 
                         29.  GENERAL GOVERNMENT

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                         Table 29-1.  FEDERAL RESOURCES IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL GOVERNMENT
                                            (In millions of dollars)
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                                                                               Estimate
               Function 800                   1998   -----------------------------------------------------------
                                             Actual     1999      2000      2001      2002      2003      2004
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Spending:
  Discretionary Budget Authority..........    12,071    13,200    12,722    13,509    13,181    13,259    13,224
  Mandatory Outlays:
    Existing law..........................     1,437     2,445     1,443     1,153     1,064     1,117     1,324
    Proposed legislation..................  ........  ........        73        87       101       110       118
Tax Expenditures:
  Existing law............................    56,805    59,175    61,570    64,140    66,865    69,715    72,900
  Proposed legislation....................  ........  ........        24        46        71       106       141
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   The General Government function encompasses the central management 
activities of the executive and legislative branches. Its major 
activities include Federal finances (tax collection, public debt, 
currency and coinage, Government-wide accounting), personnel management, 
and general administrative and property management.
   Four agencies are responsible for these activities: the Treasury 
Department (for which the budget proposes $12.5 billion), the General 
Services Administration ($161 million), the Office of Personnel 
Management ($198 million), and the Office of Management and Budget in 
the Executive Office of the President ($63 million).

Department of the Treasury

   Treasury is the Federal Government's financial agent. It produces and 
protects the Nation's currency; helps set domestic and international 
financial, economic, and tax policy; enforces economic embargoes and 
sanctions; regulates financial institutions and the alcohol, tobacco, 
and firearms industries; manages the Federal Government's financial 
accounts; and protects citizens and commerce against those who 
counterfeit money, engage in financial fraud, violate our border, and 
threaten our leaders. Treasury's law enforcement functions are included 
in Chapter 28, ``Administration of Justice.''
   In 2000 Treasury will seek to collect an estimated $1.8 trillion in 
tax and tariff revenues due under law; pay electronically more than 75 
percent of the 903 million payments that it makes; issue $2 trillion in 
marketable securities and savings bonds to finance the Government's 
operations and promote citizens' savings; and produce nine billion 
Federal Reserve Notes, 15 billion postage stamps, and 17.9 billion 
coins.

   The Internal Revenue Service (IRS): The IRS is the Federal 
Government's main revenue collector. The Service's newly revised mission 
is to provide America's taxpayers with top quality service by helping 
them understand and meet their tax responsibilities and by applying the 
tax law with integrity and fairness to all. To carry out its new 
customer service oriented mission, IRS will reorganize into four 
operating divisions, each focused on serving a group of taxpayers with 
similar needs (i.e., wage and investment, small business/self-
employment/supplemental income, middle market/large corporate, and tax 
exempt).
   The IRS is introducing a new system in 1999 to assess organizational 
performance and identify opportunities for improvement.

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 The IRS is realigning management processes and activities to ensure 
that they support the Service's mission and incorporate the principles 
of a balanced measurement system. Organizational performance measures 
will balance business results (including quality and quantity measures), 
customer satisfaction, and employee satisfaction. In addition to the new 
measurement system, IRS is undertaking a study to improve its 
methodology for estimating taxpayer compliance burden.
   Some performance targets will not be available for the IRS' new 
measures until the IRS establishes baselines. However, in 2000, the 
targets for the following critical areas of the Service's performance 
are:
   continue to improve customer service through its toll-free 
          assistance, answering 80 to 90 percent of calls, (89.9 percent 
          in 1998), with an accuracy rate of 85 percent for tax law 
          questions;
   receive 25.0 percent of individual returns filed 
          electronically, up from 19.8 percent in 1998, with seven to 
          eight million using Telefile, which allows taxpayers to file a 
          simple tax return on the telephone in 10 minutes;
   receive 78.0 percent of tax revenues electronically (up from 
          41 percent in 1997); and
   process 98 percent of refunds for electronic returns within 
          21 days.

   The Financial Management Service (FMS): The FMS mission is to improve 
the quality of Federal Government financial management by providing 
financial services, information and advice to Federal program agencies 
and other clients. In 2000, FMS will:
   increase the percentage of Federal payments and associated 
          information transmitted electronically from 58 percent in 1997 
          to 75 percent in 2000; and
   increase electronic collections as a percentage of total 
          collections from 52 percent in 1997 to 75 in 2000.

   The Bureau of Public Debt (BPD): BPD conducts all public debt 
operations for the Federal government and promotes the sale of U.S. 
savings-type securities. In 2000, BPD will:
   issue at least 95 percent of over-the-counter bonds within 
          three weeks of their purchase; and
   announce auction results within one hour 95 percent of the 
          time.

   The U.S. Mint: The U.S. Mint produces the Nation's coinage and 
manufactures numismatic products for the public. In 2000, the U.S. Mint 
will:
   introduce a new dollar coin and the second five-State series 
          in the 50 States Commemorative Quarter Program; and
   maintain high levels of customer service by shipping 
          commemorative coins within four weeks and recurring coins 
          within three weeks of order placement.

   The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP): BEP produces all U.S. 
currency, about half of U.S. postage stamps, and other government 
securities. In 2000, the BEP will:
   introduce the newly-designed $10 and $5 notes with enhanced 
          security features; and
   meet all currency shipment requirements for the Federal 
          Reserve.

General Services Administration (GSA)

   GSA provides policy leadership and expertly managed space, products, 
and services to support the administrative needs of Federal agencies. In 
2000, revenues from GSA's various business lines will approach $14 
billion. GSA is responsible for more than $50 billion a year in Federal 
spending for property management and administrative services, and 
management of assets valued at nearly $500 billion.
   In recent years, GSA has worked to develop a new Federal management 
model, focusing on performance measurement, accountability for agencies 
and employees, and the effective use of technology in changing work 
environments. GSA has established inter-agency groups to advise it on 
the policies, best practices, and performance benchmarks appropriate for 
each administrative service and information system. GSA's ultimate goal 
is a Federal Government in which agencies receive the administrative 
services they need

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according to the best practices known and at the least cost.
   As a provider of many administrative services, GSA seeks to exceed 
all Government-wide performance goals and industry benchmarks for these 
services as such benchmarks are developed or identified. Its overall 
goals as a service provider are to exceed its customer agencies' 
expectations for price, service and quality. In 2000:
   the Public Buildings Service will deliver 80 percent of its 
          construction and repair projects on schedule and within 
          budget, up from 78 percent in 1998;
   the Federal Technology Service projects a monthly line charge 
          for local telephone service of $19.84, a 31-percent cut from 
          1994 rates; and
   the Federal Supply Service will lease automobiles and other 
          motor vehicles to Federal agencies at rates that average 20 
          percent below comparable commercial lease rates.
   Because GSA provides services on a reimbursable basis, agency budgets 
fund most of GSA's activities. In 2000, for example, the budget proposes 
an appropriation of $161 million for GSA, primarily for the Office of 
Government-wide Policy and the Office of the Inspector General. However, 
the budget projects obligations of nearly $14 billion through GSA's 
revolving funds. In addition, GSA will administer contracts through 
which agencies will buy more than $19 billion in goods and services 
outside of GSA's revolving funds.

Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

   OPM provides human resource management leadership and services, based 
on merit principles, to Federal agencies and employees. It provides 
policy guidance, advice, and direct personnel services and systems to 
the agencies; operates a Worldwide job information and application 
system; and provides fast, friendly, accurate, and cost-effective 
retirement, health benefit, and life insurance services to Federal 
employees, annuitants, and agencies.
   In 2000, OPM will:
   maintain the average time to process an annuity application 
          of 23 days (which exceeds the 1999 goal of 35 days--down from 
          83 days in 1994) and reduce survivor pay processing time from 
          20 days in 1998 to nine days;
   handle about 1,072,000 annuity inquiries, a 10-percent 
          increase in volume, and increase its customer satisfaction 
          rate to 95 percent;
   increase the percentage of health benefits program customer 
          phone calls answered and completed within the performance 
          standard of 1.5 minutes from 85 percent in 1998 to 90 percent; 
          and
   reduce annuity rolls processing time from 4.5 days 1998 to 
          4.0 days.
   OPM administers the Federal civil service merit systems, covering 
nearly 1.5 million employees. In 1998, OPM conducted nationwide reviews 
of eight major agencies, finding few serious problems and discovering 
many ``best practices'' it shared with other agencies. In 1999, OPM will 
conduct seven reviews. In 2000, additional reviews will expand to non-
Title 5 agencies (e.g., personnel in the Executive Branch who are not 
covered by Title 5 of the U.S. Code) and more small agencies, increasing 
site visits from 120 to 134.
   OPM plays a proactive role in diversity initiatives. In 1998, OPM 
issued a strengthened nine-point plan to increase Hispanic employment, 
an initiative for improving African-American representation at higher 
grade levels, and targeted recruitment guidance for women and for 
persons with disabilities. OPM will build upon these efforts by 
institutionalizing the successful outreach strategies employed in the 
Presidential Management Intern program, and utilizing competency-based 
assessment tools to identify high quality, diverse candidates for 
professional and administrative careers.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

   OMB helps the President create policy relating to receipts and 
expenditures, regulations, information, and legislation; and manage the 
Executive Branch in the faithful execution of laws, policies, and 
programs. OMB also

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provides the President with the highest-quality analysis and advice on a 
broad range of topics.
   OMB advocates the appropriate allocation and effective use of 
Government resources. OMB helps the President prepare the Federal budget 
and oversee its execution in the departments and agencies. In helping 
formulate the President's spending plans, OMB examines the effectiveness 
of agency programs, policies, and procedures; assesses competing funding 
demands among agencies; and provides policy options. OMB works to ensure 
that proposed legislation, and agency testimony, reports, and policies 
are consistent with Administration policies. OMB focuses particular 
attention on managing the processes for coordinating and integrating 
policies for interagency programs. On behalf of the President, OMB often 
presents and justifies major policies and initiatives related to the 
budget and Government management before Congress.
   OMB has a central role in developing, overseeing, coordinating, and 
implementing Federal procurement, financial management, information, and 
regulatory policies. OMB helps to strengthen administrative management, 
develop better performance measures, and improve coordination among 
Executive Branch agencies.
   In 2000, OMB will produce the annual budget for 2001 using a state-
of-the art off-site secure data center, to improve efficiency and 
timeliness, improve services to agency customers, and ensure Y2K 
compliance.

Tax Incentives

   The Federal Government provides significant tax benefits for State 
and local governments. It permits tax-exempt borrowing for public 
purposes, costing $20.4 billion in Federal revenue losses in 2000 and 
$104.3 billion over five years, from 2000 to 2004. (The budget describes 
tax-exempt borrowing for non-public purposes in the chapters on other 
Government functions.) In addition, taxpayers can deduct State and local 
income taxes against their Federal income tax, costing $37.0 billion in 
2000 and $210 billion over five years. Corporations with business in 
Puerto Rico and other U.S. possessions receive a special tax credit, 
costing an estimated $4.6 billion in 2000 and $21 billion over five 
years. This tax credit is phasing out and will expire at the end of 
2005. Finally, up to certain limits, taxpayers can credit State death 
taxes against Federal estate taxes, costing $28.4 billion over five 
years.